Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Emmersyn
In all honesty, I never tried to meet Clarissa’s parents. How could I, when I was always the reason she was in trouble? It wasn’t my fault, of course, but that didn’t change the fact that they blamed me. It didn’t really matter—until I married their son. Then everything changed, and I realized just how much they hated me. So what was the point in meeting them?
There was never a good time to even try smoothing things over. Cal lived in San Diego, and whenever we had free time, we spent it together, trying to make our relationship work. And we did. We were crazy about each other—until Gertrude decided to go full Langley on us and tore everything apart.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I found out what she did, and I’m still not over it. I know I’ll forgive her eventually. But grieving the loss of someone who caused you so much pain while loving you in her own twisted way is complicated. She thought she was protecting me, but all she did was break me.
“You okay?” Caleb asks as we head to the hotel. Tomorrow, I’ll see Clarissa, her husband, and their little monsters. Then it’s back to New York, where we’re still in this strange dating phase. I like this do-over we’re experiencing though.
He’s still the same charming, bossy, flirty man I fell in love with. Well, not quite the same—he’s older. Unfortunately, I haven’t tempted him enough to have sex with me yet.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer, thoughtful. “Your parents seem to kinda like me.”
“They’ll learn to love you,” he says confidently.
“You’re so sure about it,” I roll my eyes. “I don’t think I’m the ‘bring her to your parents’ kind of girl.”
“I doubt that’s the term, but you are totally the girl-next-door type,” he lies with a teasing grin.
“You’ve always said I’m anything but normal,” I remind him, raising an eyebrow.
“Not when it comes to meeting the parents,” he clarifies. “You made a good impression on them without even trying. I’m hoping they impressed you enough that you’ll want to visit again.”
“I will,” I admit, a small smile tugging at my lips .
“Can we stop worrying about my family now?” he asks, his tone light but sincere.
“Is it wrong to want them to love me?” I dare to ask, my voice softer than before.
He keeps one hand on the wheel and reaches out for my hand with the other. “It’s not wrong at all,” he says, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. “But even if they didn’t—which they will—nothing would change how I feel about you. You’re the love of my life, Em. My family will come around because they’ll see what I see in you. They’d be fools not to.”
As we pull into Falls Lake State Recreation Area, I glance over at Caleb, a question forming on my lips, but he just gives me that mysterious, knowing smile. The sun is beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the lake and the surrounding trees. The place is serene, with the quiet murmur of nature settling into the evening.
Caleb parks the car and hops out, moving around to open my door. He takes my hand, and we start walking down a well-worn path lined with tall pines, the air cool and crisp. The soft crunch of gravel under our feet is the only sound, and I feel a strange mix of anticipation and curiosity bubbling up inside me.
“Where are we going?” I ask, unable to keep the smile out of my voice.
“You’ll see,” he says, his tone playful but with an undercurrent of excitement.
We round a bend, and my breath catches in my throat. Laid out before us on a small grassy clearing by the lake is a beautifully set picnic. A large blanket is spread out, with a cozy assortment of pillows scattered around for lounging.
In the center, a low wooden table is set with two plates, silverware, and crystal glasses. Surrounding the picnic are small, lantern-like lamps casting a warm, golden glow, their light flickering gently in the evening breeze. There’s a basket filled with what looks like an assortment of my favorite foods—cheese, fruit, bread, and even a bottle of sparkling water.
But what really takes my breath away are the tiny, twinkling fairy lights strung up between the trees, making it feel like we’ve stepped into some sort of enchanted forest. And above us, the first stars are starting to peek out from the deepening sky.
“Caleb . . .” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “This is . . . It’s perfect.”
He squeezes my hand and leads me closer to the setup, his eyes never leaving mine. “I know how much you love stargazing,” he says softly, “so I set up telescopes for us. We can have a picnic, look through them, and watch the stars together. No distractions, just us.”
I blink back tears, overwhelmed by how much thought he put into this. “I can’t believe you did all this,” I say, my voice wavering with emotion. “It’s beautiful.”
He smiles, a soft, genuine smile that melts my heart. “You deserve it, Em. I wanted to do something special for you, to show you how much I care. How much I love you.”
I can’t find the words to respond, so instead, I just nod, feeling a lump forming in my throat. We sit down on the blanket, and Caleb immediately starts unpacking the basket, setting out the food with a practiced ease. He’s thoughtful like that, always making sure everything is just right .
“Look,” he says, nodding toward the sky as he hands me a plate. “The stars are coming out.”
I glance up and feel my breath hitch in my throat. The sky is a deep, velvety blue, and countless stars are twinkling above us. It’s one of those moments that feels almost surreal, like time has slowed down just for us.
“This is my favorite thing in the world,” I murmur, leaning back on the pillows, my eyes still on the sky.
“I know,” Caleb says, his voice soft and warm. “That’s why I wanted to bring you here. I thought maybe we could make a new memory together.”
I turn to look at him, and the sincerity in his eyes makes my heart swell. “You’ve already made this a night I’ll never forget,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
He leans in closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I hope so,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “Because all I want is to make you happy, Em. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it gently. “You do, Caleb,” I say, my voice full of conviction. “You make me happier than I ever thought possible.”
He smiles, and it’s the kind of smile that lights up his whole face, making my heart skip a beat. “Good,” he says, his tone playful but with a hint of seriousness. “Because I plan on doing this for the rest of my life.”
I laugh softly, leaning in to kiss him gently on the lips. “Then I guess we’re in this together,” I say, feeling a sense of contentment settle over me. “Forever.”
He grins, pulling me closer, his arms wrapping around me with a warmth that makes me feel safe and cherished. “Forever,” he agrees, his voice a low, soothing promise.
And then, without another word, he kisses me. It’s not just a simple kiss—it’s deep and intense, like he’s pouring every ounce of emotion he’s ever felt for me into this one moment. His lips move against mine with a kind of urgency, like he’s trying to make up for all the time we lost, and I can feel the raw, unfiltered passion in every touch. My heart races, my breath catches in my throat as I lose myself in him, in us.
It’s the kind of kiss that makes the world fall away, leaving only the two of us in this bubble of warmth and desire. I cling to him, feeling the way his hands cradle my face, his fingers brushing through my hair with a tenderness that makes my chest tighten. It’s overwhelming and beautiful, and I never want it to end.
When we finally pull away, both of us breathless, he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes searching mine as if looking for reassurance. “I meant every word,” he whispers, his voice rough with emotion. “I’m not letting go, Em. Not ever again.”