Chapter Fifty-Two
Blake
“T hat’s the one,” Margo declares from my bed.
In the mirror, I can see Meera nodding next to her eagerly.
Taking in my reflection again, it truthfully takes a lot of mental focus to not think about what this mirror was used for only a week ago. Other than Christmas Day, we’ve spent every night together since. He really did give me a spare key a few days ago—he slipped it on my keychain when I was leaving work last week and asked me to ‘meet him at home’ because he was working later than me.
So, I did. After grabbing an overnight bag from home and letting my mom know where I’d be, I went to his apartment and waited for him. Killing time by taking a shower and making us dinner, I didn’t feel uncomfortable, or out of place, at any point.
It felt right, especially when he opened the door and found me standing at the stove in nothing but a pair of boyshort panties, and the Looney Tunes crewneck I had just bought for him.
And… that was that. Much like dinners at The Loop, and him watching the Paulson boys with me, it became another one of our routines.
Focusing back on the moment, I take in my reflection. I’m in a mini sequin dress with long sleeves and an open back. It’s different from what I’d usually wear, but I don’t dislike it either. The midnight blue compliments my dark hair and gray eyes really well, and the thin shimmery tights Margo insisted I try on with it, are a nice touch.
“Are you sure?” I ask anyway, feeling silly to dress up for a party in my parents’ living room. They always host a little gathering for New Year’s Eve, though usually I’m off with Margo, Meera, and her brothers, doing something else.
This year, they decided to spend the night here and even convinced their parents to break their usual traditions to come as well.
But more than just feeling silly, Adrian is going to be here tonight. With his parents and Maria. I almost wish he hadn’t told me and instead had gone with the surprise approach like when he took me to SunRay’s, and I met his Grammy.
The anxiety of meeting them for the first time has been brewing for three days now, ever since Adrian and I agreed that we wanted to spend the night together. Our relationship is new but is at the forefront of my life as we move into the new year, so it felt right.
And I want to meet Camille, Will, and Maria. They are the three people responsible for making Adrian into the man I’ve fallen in love with. That’s also why I’m so worried that something will go wrong.
“Absolutely yes,” Margo insists, looking so authentically herself and comfortable in that version. Her long blonde hair is curled and styled with little bows. It’s the short, black dress with bell sleeves, paired with sparkly fishnet tights and combat boots, that really ties the whole look together.
Meera, on the other hand, is in a gray midi silk skirt, styled with a pretty updo, a black mesh top with a bralette underneath, and heels that add at least four inches to her height. Looking me over, she agrees with Margo for the fifth time. “You look beautiful, Blake. Promise.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” Adrian’s deep voice comes from the doorway and our heads whip in that direction. “I like them,” he nods toward my friends. “They haven’t been wrong since I met them.”
“Hell yeah, we’re always right,” Margo agrees from behind me and I hear her share a high five with Meera.
Rolling my eyes, I smile at Adrian and ignore the peanut gallery sitting on my bed. As soon as I saw him leaning against the door frame, I felt this cosmic force to be closer to him. Without overthinking it, I close the gap separating us, and he pulls me into his embrace before I can reach for him.
As my arms wrap around his waist, he gently cups the back of my neck with one hand and my jaw with the other. “Hey, Storm Cloud. You really are fucking gorgeous.” He drops his lips to mine and takes his time greeting me, already used to the audience we have anytime they’re in town.
A little thing I’ve noticed about Adrian is he typically uses compliments that are broader than the current moment. Like now—I don’t look gorgeous, I just am . I wouldn’t turn down any types of affirmation from him, but I love these ones a little extra.
“Thanks. You look really great as well.” I take a step back to take in his black pants and the dark blue satin button down he has on. It’s short sleeved with a monochrome floral print to it, still I can’t help but notice—
“Oh my God, they match,” Meera squeals from the bed. I’m sure she’s trying to be quiet except she fails miserably. And Margo’s snort clues her in because she whispers, “Sorry.”
Shaking my head, I walk over to the small jewelry holder pinned to my wall, picking out some earrings before I put on the necklace Adrian gave me.
“Okay,” Margo singsongs. “We’ll meet you out there.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch as they both stop to give Adrian a quick hug in greeting, before making their way to the backyard. In the middle of putting my second earring in, I turn toward him as he softly shuts the door.
“I’m almost done. I don’t want to keep your parents waiting.”
“It’s okay. I introduced them to your parents already and got to meet Bonnie. She’s nice.” I nod and finish clasping the back of the earring. “Are you feeling okay about tonight? I don’t want you to be nervous, but I know you better than that.”
Letting out a deep breath, I decide to just be honest because he’d know if I lied to spare his feelings. “Of course I’m nervous. My parents already liked you before we started to hang out because you’re their employee. They weren’t basing their judgement only on the fact that you’re my boyfriend.”
Stepping up to me, he reaches behind me and grabs the necklace. Just like on Christmas morning, he puts it on for me and gently cups the back of my neck. “I mean, the circumstances are different. I can’t deny that. But my parents know you’re a whole person outside of our relationship—and that’s who they’re excited to meet. The woman who cares so deeply for her entire community, who offers her free time to families in need without a second of doubt, who is one of the most resilient, and brilliant, people they’ll ever meet. The woman that their son is lucky enough to call his girl—and hopefully one day, so much more.”
“Adrian,” I murmur. “That’s just how you see me.”
“No, baby. That’s exactly who you are, and part of why I’m in love with you. And my parents already like you from everything I’ve told them about you.”
“Oh God, I forgot you talked about me with them,” I grumble.
He laughs and grabs my jaw, angling me for another kiss. “The only reason they don’t love you yet, is because they haven’t met you. So, let’s go.”
I ’m not totally sure if it’s a blessing or curse when we find my friends standing with my parents, Bonnie, and who I can only assume is Adrian’s parents and godmother. They’d never mean to embarrass me, but Margo really lacks a filter most days. And the last thing I need is Meera squealing through our introductions.
Adrian doesn’t seem deterred by my friends though. He interlaces our fingers and pulls me toward the group.
“Oh, there you two are,” my mom smiles when she notices us walking over.
When Adrian’s parents turn, I can’t help but notice the wide, genuine grin his mom is sporting compared to the smaller, though equally as warm, smile his dad is offering us. Right off the bat, it calms some of my nerves from how similar it is to my own parents. Glancing up at Adrian, I wonder if that’s why it’s been so easy for him to integrate himself into my family.
“Hi, doll,” Adrian’s mom, Camille, greets me first. She doesn’t look that much like Adrian, despite that, she’s as beautiful as you’d expect for the woman who gave him life. She’s a couple inches shorter than me with shoulder-length coils that frame her soft jaw. The warm gold of her modest jumpsuit complements her full curves and rich ebony skin. It’s the way in which she’s smiling that overtakes her entire being, making the resemblance between the two of them unmistakable. “You must be Blake.”
Swallowing nervously, I nod and try to smile in spite of the butterflies thrashing my stomach. “Hi, yes. It’s great to meet you.”
Sticking out my hand, I’m momentarily surprised when Camille uses that to pull me into a hug. Subtly I gather my wits and tentatively offer the gesture back.
“Please, call me Cami.”
“Cami—got it.” When we pull apart, she grabs her husband’s hand, and he steps forward. Thankfully offering me a hand rather than another embrace, I take it. “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell him.
“You as well, Blake. I’m Will. And thank you for inviting us over tonight.” On the other hand, Adrian looks almost exactly like his father. They have the same deep mahogany complexion and dimples, but Will’s hair is longer on the sides. Adrian’s mentioned that he’s a bit taller than his father, although it can’t be by much.
Smiling, my eyes move to the last woman I haven’t met. She’s a younger version of her mother with warm olive skin and dark green eyes. Her chestnut brown hair that’s styled in a short, messy bob and the black pants suit is the opposite of the eccentric older woman.
“Maria,” she confirms, as she grabs my hand in a more tender, warm grasp than the handshake I shared with Adrian’s dad. “My mom hasn’t stopped talking about you for weeks now.”
Laughing awkwardly, I shrug and admit, “I loved her. Adrian and I are planning on spending a whole day with them soon. I didn’t get to meet your dad yet.”
“Oh, I know. It was all she talked about on the plane to Florida last week.”
This time, the chuckle is genuine, and I feel the anxiety starting to drift from my body.
Throughout this whole conversation, my friends have been standing silently near my parents. As much as I appreciate it, I can’t help but glance suspiciously toward them.
Will pulls my attention back. “Adrian’s told us so much about you.”
“So I’ve heard,” I quietly mutter, not meaning to blurt out the words.
My eyes go wide, hoping I didn’t offend anyone, but Cami laughs easily. “He had no choice. I’d been hoping he’d run into the cute girl from the grocery store again.”
She winks as my cheeks grow warmer, realizing that night really was somehow monumental in the grand scheme of things.
“The grocery store?” my dad cuts in for the first time.
Ruefully, I turn toward my parents, not missing the chaotic smile starting to tug on Margo’s lips. Meera just looks like she needs a container of popcorn.
To his credit, my dad doesn’t look mad. More so confused. “Did you know each other before Adrian got the job?”
“No,” we say at the same time. Continuing, I tell my parents, “We ran into each other at the grocery store—literally.”
“It was a real-life meet cute,” Meera pipes in, making my parents laugh. They’ve been around her long enough to know she’s a romantic, much like my father.
“I’ll give you the story, Timmy,” Margo says. The two of them are the only people to ever call him that as far as I’m aware. It’s no surprise which of the two came up with it. “Meera and I saw the whole thing play out in real time.”
Leaning into Adrian’s chest, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, and we listen as my best friend, and his mother, give the detailed account of the night we saw each other for the first time.