“Yes, ma’am,” I manage to get out. The stunned look on my face has her laughing again as she turns to go.
“Tell your mom hi for me.” She waves goodbye and heads in the direction of her house.
What in the hell just happened? I feel like I just entered the Twilight Zone.
Chuckling at the absurdity of it all, I get into the truck and glance down when I hear my phone ding.
Olivia
Gizmo is fine staying here for the day. Bee still has her arms around him and will be ecstatic when she wakes up and sees that he’s still here.
I start to respond when another text pops up.
Olivia
Tell me again that my heart is safe with you.
Even through the text, I can feel her vulnerability as if it were my own.
Miles
Your heart is safe with me. I promise.
I wait a full minute as the three dots dance before her text finally shows up.
Olivia
Then why don’t you come back inside instead of sitting in my driveway, and I’ll make us some breakfast? I’m sure Bee will be happy to see you when she wakes up.
I glance out the truck and see her watching me from the window. A slow smile spreads across her face, and my heart races at what this means.
Grinning back at her, I get out and walk back in toward the two people who are quickly becoming my everything.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
OLIVIA
“You look beautiful,” he chuckles softly, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. “You’ve changed your outfit five times and have been in front of this mirror for the past hour. It’s just my parents and Knox,” he says, kissing me along my jawline and doing his best to try to soothe my nerves.
“Justyour parents and Knox? It’s three very important people in your life.”
It’s the day before the opening of his bar, and his best friend from high school arrived this morning. We made plans tonight to have dinner with them at Miles’s place, where they all are staying while in town.
Travis and Sophia had plans to take their kids to the movies, and they graciously offered to take Bee with them so I could spend time with his parents uninterrupted. They picked her up thirty minutes ago, leaving me to fuss over my outfit choices.
“I already told you, they are going to love you.” His eyes meet mine in the mirror and instantly calm me. “How could they not?” He smiles, and the rest of my worries fade away.
After I invited him to stay for breakfast yesterday, we spentthe morning making pancakes with Bee. She didn’t think twice about his ‘coming over’to pick up Gizmo and staying for breakfast. We still aren’t openly affectionate in front of her, but I know it’s something I’ll be talking to her about soon, and will gradually be happening.
Since leaving yesterday, he’s been working nonstop at the bar, putting last-minute things in place. He surprised me by coming over after he left work today so we could ride to his house together. I’m sure he sensed I was nervous and needed a distraction.
I smooth out my pale pink sundress that I chose and take a deep inhale. “I’m ready,” I nod in the bathroom mirror and gather up all the courage I can muster. Get me in front of a business client and I’m a confident badass woman, but apparently, if you put me in front of the parents who made the guy I’m falling for, I become a cowardly mess.
“Before we go…” He hesitates briefly before continuing. “I have to tell you something so you’re not caught off guard.”
“Okaaaaay,” I say leerily before turning around and eyeing him.
“I might have told my parents and Knox that they're meeting my girlfriend tonight,” he sheepishly smiles and drags his hand through his hair. “I just wanted to warn you so you wouldn’t be thrown off guard.”
