Chapter 75: Too Much for Your Parents?

ELLIE

I suspected it was the flight attendant. Ethan shook his head, signaling me to stay quiet. Could someone have heard us?

“Whoever’s in there, I need you to come out now.”

“Shit!” I cursed.

How many laws had we just broken, becoming new members of the mile-high club? Damn. Could I get arrested for this? Ethan was driving me crazy. And the idiot seemed to be enjoying it, judging by the grin on his face.

“What’s so funny, you idiot?” I whispered through gritted teeth, pushing him away so I could straighten my clothes.

“If you don’t come out, I’m going to have to open the door,” the voice outside warned.

“Relax. I’ve got this,” he said while adjusting his pants. “Just a second!” he called out to the woman outside.

“What are you going to do?”

I watched him turn and open a small gap in the door, making me nervous. I couldn’t see her or hear what they were talking about.

A minute later, he just closed the door and turned back to me.

“All handled, but we still have to leave.”

“What did you say to her? Not even all your cheap charm could save us from this.”

“You don’t think so?” He arched an eyebrow, looking smug.

"Spit it out."

“Alright. Apparently, my girlfriend just found out she’s pregnant and was feeling dizzy and nauseous, so I made sure she was okay by staying with her.”

“You told her I’m pregnant? How did she believe that?”

“I think I convinced her when I reminded her that she witnessed your temper earlier when you made me switch seats.”

"God! You really are an asshole!" I shook my head in disbelief, trying to suppress a smile.

He stepped closer.

“I’ll go out first and head back to my seat next to you.”

“Do you really think that’s necessary?” I teased.

Reaching for my chin, he slid his thumb over my bottom lip.

“Now, you and that incredible ass of yours have nowhere left to run.” He winked, placing his hand over my belly. “I can’t wait to meet your grandparents,” he whispered, making me laugh.

“Idiot.”


*

I was feeling more anxious than usual as I waited for Ethan to arrive. It was strange introducing him to my parents so soon. How long had we known each other? A month? It felt like so much longer. Maybe we should take things slower.

But he flew all the way here for me, and I had already met his parents. Maybe I was overreacting, and this wasn’t a big deal.

It’s not a marriage. It’s just… dating? God! Are we dating? That sounds so weird. I laughed to myself, realizing I sounded like a nervous teenager about to introduce her boyfriend to her parents.

When, in reality, I’m a twenty-seven-year-old, fully independent woman. I guess this feeling, this flutter in my stomach, must be normal.

It was good to be home again, my real home. Seeing my parents and spending time with them was priceless. Lying in my bed, in the teenage Ellie’s bed, and seeing how they’d kept my room unchanged always made me feel so nostalgic.

I stared at one of the Guns N’ Roses posters on my wall, more specifically one of a younger Axl Rose. I laughed at the memory. Oh, teenage Ellie had such a crush on him.

She thought he was hot as hell. Who was I kidding? That hadn’t changed, I still thought he was sexy as hell. Rock was still one of my passions. It was good to see that some things never changed.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, signaling a new message. I stretched to reach for it. It was from Ethan, letting me know he’d be here in ten minutes. Alright, it was time to go downstairs and finish helping my parents set the table.

Although I had offered Ethan the guest room, he chose to stay at a hotel. That’s where I dropped him off before coming home, and the place wasn’t far.

Apparently, the only thing Ethan brought besides himself was his wallet. So, he said he needed to buy some things. Maybe, besides being a bastard, he was also a little crazy. But with that body, I could overlook a few minor details.

My parents were in the kitchen, laughing about something. As always, they seemed happier than ever. I paused in the doorway, watching the two of them, feeling my heart warm at the sight.

Jane and Matthew Brown always said I had been a miracle in their lives since my mom could never get pregnant, but the truth is, they were my miracle.

Just looking at them was enough to make me want to cry. I couldn’t be more grateful, and maybe that’s why I never cared to find out who my biological parents were.

It didn’t seem to matter at all, considering all the love these two had given me. I was so lucky. I could never forget that.

“You should rest, sweetheart,” my mom said, noticing me and approaching with a loving look.

“I’m fine, I had plenty of time to rest on the flight, and Ethan will be here soon.” I offered them both a smile as I smoothed my arm.

Maybe they were a bit surprised when I told them I was seeing someone, but they handled it better than I expected.

I had always shared almost everything with them, and when things happened with Todd, it was no different. My mom probably heard me cry more than a few times over the phone.

As a result, they became more worried about me than usual. So, I wasn’t sure how they’d feel about me dating someone now.

“Oh, I can’t wait to meet this guy and see if he really deserves our golden girl,” my dad said, sitting down at the table.

Should I worry about that? Maybe it wasn’t good for Ethan to have someone reinforcing his paranoia about not being good enough.

My mom, standing in front of me, stroking my shoulder.

“Stop that, Matt, she’s already nervous enough,” she said, trying to reassure me with a smile. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure he must be someone special.” I nodded.

“Can I set the table?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”


*


As I was finishing setting the last of the silverware, he arrived. My heart sped up as I walked to the door, aware that my parents were following me.

This was a little crazy. Ethan and me. The hateful bastard who’d invited me to his bed just minutes after meeting me was now the object of all my desires.

In such a short time, this man had turned my world upside down and made me feel things I didn’t even believe were possible anymore.

He was offering me something I’d always wanted, but at the same time, something completely new and unknown. At the moment, I think I could describe what I was feeling as pure happiness.

I tried to calm myself as I reached for the door handle, aware of how irregular my breathing was.

I took one last glance at my parents, standing in the living room behind me. My mom smiled at me before I finally opened the door.

But seeing the face of the handsome man on the other side of the door was enough to calm me down and also make my whole body wake up.

He gave me a shy smile. Unlike mine, which was probably too wide.

“Hi.”

“Hi… I see you got some new clothes,” I said, giving him a look from head to toe.

He was wearing a black shirt with black pants. So sexy, it didn’t seem like the right outfit to meet my parents. He leaned in to kiss my cheek.

“I know you prefer me without them. But that might be too much for your parents,” he whispered, making me smile. Pervert. “You look as beautiful as ever. Now, let’s pretend I’m not a man over thirty who’s nervous about meeting your parents.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Let’s just get this torture over with.”