CHAPTER518
I mean, it’s only been just over a month and still finding our way with each other, still trying to get used to being able to trust him again. I also don’t know how they will react. All his fears and reasons from before really do make sense to me now. They might see this as wrong because of what Arry was to me, the age gap, and the fact they always trusted him to take care of me like a brother. I stare at myself and think through all the different things they may object to about this and see myself visibly pale.
Really never considered what my family disapproving of us would mean, what it would feel like and I am suddenly terrified. My heart drops and my stomach turns over in complete heartbreak. Knowing I can never give him up and go back to before, knowing it would destroy me. I swallow hard, take a deep breath and fluff out my appearance a little. Smoothing, primping, and preening until I look as close to normal as I can while my insides are wrenching themselves into an ulcer.
I take one last steadying breath and walk through to the door that leads me to my parents. They are all walking to the couch, obviously having had pleasantries in the foyer and my mother smiles widely at me and then turns and squints at Arrick.
“Interesting shade of lipstick you’re wearing.” She smiles. I glance at her, wondering why she would think my coral lipstick was odd as she bought it for me, and then realize she’s rubbing a thumb on Arrick’s neck and I die a little. Heart stopping mid beat. He’s wiped my mess from his mouth, but there is a clear trail of smudges down under his collar and he falters. His perfect poker face only betrayed by a tiny flicker of the brow and he refrains from looking my way.
“You know us? Carry on and act weird sometimes. Smothering her is kind of my thing.” He laughs in a joking manner and I feel my dad’s eyes on me questioningly.
I hate it, I hate that he’s trying to cover for me, lying to them, when he never lies. Hate that they’re now both looking at me with a hint of dubious and probably wondering why I never am open with them. Why still, after all these years I still never tell them anything of importance or share myself with them the way I do with him. My mother’s eyes flicker to me, hovering in the door and I break so easily.
“We’re dating… Please don’t be mad.” I sound like a feeble child, blurting it out impulsively when caught like a deer in the headlights; small and scared and my eyes fill with moisture. So scared about the back lash I am about to get and terrified they may make him leave. My dad frowns at me and then Arrick, then steps forward and pats him on the shoulder with a smile.
“About time… Only took you six years to finally see sense.” My dad grins and Arrick breaks into a smile too, he seems to visibly exhale with relief. My mother’s eyes are still trained on me, giving nothing else away as to what she is thinking, and I begin to tremble under her scrutiny. The relief from my dad’s response cannot stop the fear I am feeling waiting on hers.
She slowly walks to me, runs a gentle hand over my cheek and tucks hair behind my ear.
“We gave up hope when he got with Natasha…… Sophie, why would we be mad?” She smiles at me gently, her soft face crinkling pleasantly. I swallow hard, emotion choking me as a tear runs down my cheek.
“The age gap…. It’s Arry? I don’t know…Maybe you would have thought it was weird or wrong.” My voice trembles and I feel Arrick looking at me, his calm hazel eyes on mine with a supportive smile, as my dad pats him on the shoulder again, all manly like and then pulls him into a hug that knocks him off balance. I stare into my mom’s eyes and inhale fast when I spot the hint of a tear filling her eye.
“We have hoped for so long that you two would move past from a sort of sibling bond to more. We have always known he was exactly what you needed.” Her voice is strained with genuine emotion and happiness.
I let myself cry a little, her nurturing fingers brush away my tears and then I throw myself around her in a tight hug. Completely overwhelmed and needing this.
“I love you, mom.” I gush at her and revel in the tight hug she gives me back, squeezing me tight and then pushes my face back so she can kiss my cheek. She looks at me as though I have just given her the best Christmas ever and I am aware how very little I do shower her with hugs.
“I love you too, my little Sweet pea, you will always be my baby. My little wild child.” She grins at me with unconcealed joy.
“I second that.” My dad chimes in and it’s now I realize he’s beside us, pushing my mom away gently so he can lean in and kiss me on the head. Arrick is standing back, giving them space and seems at a loss as to what to do with himself. I can see the utter relief on his face that they are really okay with this, despite saying it didn’t matter to him anymore, I know it does.
“Guess we should go and let you two get back to…. your evening.” My mom smiles gently, a little awkwardly and my dad chuckles.
“Mmmm Hmmmm.” My dad winks knowingly, and I inwardly cringe, wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole. It’s clear that they know we were not just playing scrabble or something equally innocent before they arrived.
“Does your mother know?” My mom turns to Arrick and blinks with raised brows.
“No. Not yet, we were giving ourselves time to adjust… Guess I should now, huh?” Arrick gives my mom his Hollywood smile, the one reserved for special occasions when he wants to completely charm the pants off someone and I eyeroll.
He’s such a schmoozer sometimes.
“I think so…. Dare say she will be happy to get out for a new hat. She’s been praying for this day as long as I have.” My mom is beaming, a little too smugly so and I wonder if them knowing so soon is a good thing after all.
“Pressure much.” I grumble, realizing my parents are probably about to marry us off and set up a new home beside them to fill with grandchildren.
I think not.
Arrick slides past them and comes to stand beside me, sliding his arm around my waist which I instantly push off awkwardly. It’s one thing to tell them we are dating, but a hell of a difference to letting him touch me in front of them. I am so not there yet; I hear him chuckle under his breath at my reaction and elbow him in the abs to warn him to keep his hands off.
“We will be off… Come for dinner soon, I think telling your mom face to face will be nicer. We won’t tell a soul until you both come home.” She smiles at me adoringly and my dad nods in happy agreement.
“No, actually… Mom. Maybe you could tell Leila and Ben, and the rest of them for me. I can’t face either of those two having the older sibling, birds, and bees chat. Leila would traumatize me for life.” I follow them to the door, Arrick close on my heels as he runs a finger down my spine, stopping mid-way down one of my ass cheeks with a pinch. I try to slap him away without making it obvious; he knows what he’s doing, and I turn and give him a little scowl that is only met with a grin."
