23
Star
It was great to be home.
Not from Fin’s. I hated leaving there. I mean from the coffee shop. Alec had badgered me for info all day long at work. He also had the audacity to tell me my ever present smile was beginning to look sinister. I couldn’t help laughing out loud at that. Luckily, I knew he was only joking. Jeez, a girl couldn’t win.
On more than one occasion, I found myself humming ‘Strange and Beautiful’ and realised I was drifting off into a dreamland where only Fin and I existed, wrapped round one another in his oversized bed.
Even after arriving home, making myself a peppermint tea, and sitting down on the couch to drink it, I was off in some fantasy world that almost caused me to scald myself. I caught the slipping mug just in time as my phone began to ring telling me there was a video call coming through from my folks in the States.
I tapped the screen. ‘Hi!’ I said a little too excitedly as my parents’ smiling faces appeared.
‘Hey, pumpkin. It’s Mom and Dad. How’s our little Star doing?’
I laughed. ‘I know it’s you. I can see you. And I’m hardlylittle, Dad. But... I’m good, actually.’
My mom narrowed her eyes. ‘I know that tone of voice. Who is he?’
My God, how were parents so attuned with their kids when they lived so far away? ‘I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mom.’
‘Oh, come now, Star. I’m your mother. You can’t fool me.’
She was so right. I sighed but did so with a huge grin on my face. ‘He’s gorgeous and his name is Fin. Oh, and did I mention he’s a lawyer?’
My mom and dad shared a knowing look. My mom pulled her lips in between her teeth and widened her eyes. It was hard to keep a straight face.
They both returned their attention to the camera. ‘So, tell us about Fin. How long have you known him?’
‘Oh, not long. But... well, I think this couldbesomething. We just... we click. They say opposites attract, right? And I think that’s us. He’s all corporate suits and formality, and I’m all crazy clothes and pink hair.’
Mom’s brow crumpled. ‘He... he sounds veryserious, honey. Are you sure he’s right for you?’Mom, ever the worrier.Thankfully, I knew there was another side to his personality.
‘Oh, Mom, you have no idea. He has an interesting hobby.’
My dad gasped. ‘Oh, God. Tell me he’s not into all that stuff you read about in those erotic novels. Not that I’ve read any, but... well, youhearthings. And I know we’re very open, honey, but I’m not sure I—’
My mom gasped and whacked his arm. ‘Jerry, for goodness sake. Let the girl speak, will you? And how the hell is that the conclusion you drew?’
Dad’s cheeks flushed as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar and he rubbed his arm, even though I knew it wouldn’t have really hurt him. ‘I read something on the internet and there was a movie too. I just don’t want her—’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Mom! Dad! Stop! He’s asinger. Okay? He sings. That’s all. Jeez.’
I watched as both pairs of shoulders relaxed and their smiles returned. ‘Oh, that’s great, honey. What kind of music does he enjoy singing? Opera?’
I snorted, almost choking on the mouthful of tea I had just gulped. How the heck had they come up with that idea? Was it the mere fact he was a lawyer? Talk about judging. It surprised me as they weren’t normally so quick to assume. ‘Opera? Um... not exactly. He sings rock songs. Loud, gravelly rock songs. And his voice, ohmygod, it’s enough to melt your p...’ Suddenly remembering I was talking to my parents, I just about stopped the wordpantiesfrom falling from my lips. ‘...heart. He melts myheartwith his voice.’
‘Awww, you seem smitten, kitten,’ Dad replied, and it was my turn to breathe a sigh of relief.
‘Yeah, Dad. I kind of am. It’s all been very sudden but we’re just seeing where it goes.’
‘Well we’re very happy for you, sweetie. You deserve someone wonderful.’
‘Thanks, Mom. I think so too.’
The rest of the conversation centred on Grandma and if I was visiting her often enough, then what the family were doing back home, and what my old friends were up to. Alec walked in just as the call was coming to its usual emotional ending and I was feeling kind of homesick. But once I hung up, I was back to evading Alec’s questions about my night with Fin. Alec was the master of distraction techniques, and he knew very well when I needed them to be used on me.
‘So, was it better this time, Twinkle?’ he called from the kitchen.
