Page 66 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
“I know you’re worried about people recognizing you, but I promise, my parents and my great-uncle won’t have any idea who you are. They don’t pay attention to celebrities or pop culture. My dad only ever watches sports, and my mom only watches the news and HGTV. And the only shows my great-uncle likes are ones from the Philippines.”
He grins as he walks back over to me. “So is this like a meet-the-family dinner?”
“Yeah. If you want it to be?”
“I’d like it to be.”
My heart soars in my chest. For the past few weeks that we’ve been messing around, I haven’t brought up the “what are we doing?/what are we to each other?” conversation. I wanted to focus on enjoying the moment and not put pressure on a future or expectations or anything like that. But witnessing this eagerness from him at the prospect of meeting my family sets off something inside me. When I picture Lewis with my family, laughing and chatting and joking, I feel happy and whole. I slide my arms around his waist and tiptoe up to kiss him.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had dinner with a girlfriend’s family.”
I freeze on my tiptoes just as Lewis’s eyes go wide, seemingly realizing what he’s just said. If I’m Lewis’s girlfriend, that changes things. That means our situation is more than just two people hooking up... It means we’re on our way to being serious... We’d need to think about the future and what our status will be after the renovation is over. If we don’t, if we keep ignoring the elephant in the room and refuse to talk about our future as a couple, one of us—or both of us—is bound to get hurt.
I quickly tell the analyzing part of my brain to shove it. That’s all true, but I don’t want to focus on the stress that all those questions bring about. Right now, all I want to focus on is the giddiness coursing through me at hearing Lewis call me his girlfriend.
His shoulders relax, and his expression eases. “Is it okay that I called you my girlfriend?”
My stomach does a somersault at hearing him say that word again.Girlfriend.
I reach up and pull his face down to me so I can kiss him breathless. “Hell yes, it’s okay.”
His lips stretch into a smile as he kisses me. “I’ve been dying to say that.”
“I’m glad you finally did, boyfriend.”
Chapter Eighteen
Harper
When I walk in the door of my parents’ house on the outskirts of San Francisco, Lewis by my side, I hold my breath. This is the first time I’ve brought a guy home since... I can’t even remember. College maybe?
When I see there’s no one in the foyer, I exhale, relieved. That’ll buy a few extra seconds of us alone before the barrage of questions starts.
Lewis peers down at me. “You seem nervous.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t brought a guy home in a really, really long time. They’re gonna lose their minds.”
“You warned me on the drive over.”
He gives my waist a light squeeze that makes me laugh.
“I know, but wait until you witness it in person.”
I love my family to the moon and back, but I’m at the age where at any gathering, questions about when I’m getting married and having kids happen more frequently than “How are you?” I know they mean well, but I’ve always loathed just how much pressure their questions carry. I’ve never seen relationships as the be-all, end-all. I love the life I’ve built for myself as a successful single person. If I were to someday meet someone who I could envision being with long-term, that would be an awesome bonus to my already fulfilling life, but it’s never been my primary focus.
Well, you met Lewis and look at you now. Pretty damn fulfilled...in more ways than one.
His confident smile doesn’t budge. “I’m ready. Bring it on.”
As if on cue, Mom’s voice echoes from the kitchen. “Harper, honey, is that you?”
I holler back a yes, and she walks out of the kitchen.
“Oh, we’re so excited to see...” Her eyes go wide when she takes in the giant handsome man standing next to me. “And who is this?”
She’s beaming as she scurries over to pull me into a hug and kiss my cheek, her eyes never leaving Lewis.
“This is Lewis. My...contractor. For the remodel.”
