Chapter 39 #3
Quinn and I spend the next hour cleaning up Ava and Kinsley’s mess before her parents arrive, then say our final goodbyes.
Alone in the apartment, I rush through a shower and get ready for Wes’s celebratory dinner.
He picks me up a little after seven, and we meet his family at the same Italian restaurant as last time.
We spend the meal talking and laughing, and I have a blast, grateful not just for Wes but for his loving family, who welcome me into their fold with open arms.
While Wes has flexibility as far as when he moves out of his house, I have to be out of the dorm tomorrow, which is also when my parents arrive to collect me.
Wes offers to help me clean, but no way am I letting him waste his last official night in college packing up my dorm.
There’s a bit of back and forth before I finally convince him to hang out with his friends and party until dawn, and then I head back to my empty apartment.
After cleaning the kitchen and making ten trips to and from the dumpster with all of my roommates’ shit, I move on to my own bedroom. I take down my minimal decorations and stuff all my books in a box. I pull clothes off hangers and fold them into my suitcase.
I’ve just cleaned my desk when my phone buzzes with a text, and I glance at the screen in surprise.
Wes: Whatcha doing???
I smile at the text from my boyfriend and type out a reply.
Me: Still packing unfortunately. What are you doing?
Wes: Missing you :(
I snicker at his dramatics even as my heart skips a beat in response to his words.
Me: It’s been an hour! Shouldn’t you be getting drunk with Ben and Kaden?
Wes: Ben’s at the hotel with his parents. Kaden’s with some girl…
Me: Wow, so much for the bromance.
Wes: I know, right? After all we’ve been through. They abandon me like it’s nothing.
Me: Well, can’t you go to parties without them?
Wes: Nah, it’s not appealing. I’ve been to enough college parties to last me a lifetime.
I frown at his message and type out a reply.
Me: So, what are you doing then? You’re all alone??
Wes: Not anymore :p
I startle at the knock on my front door and drop my phone on the desk. Shaking my head in disbelief, I hurry out to the living area and open the door to reveal my boyfriend.
I beam at him, my stomach fluttering. “What are you doing here?”
He grins at me, stepping inside the apartment and shutting the door. “I missed you,” he says, and gathers me in a tight hug.
“I missed you, too,” I mumble, “and it’s only been an hour. How are we going to survive this summer and then next fall and then—”
He pulls back to look into my eyes, his hands giving my shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “Ives, we have a plan. We won’t be apart for long, trust me. I can’t stand the thought of it.”
My nose wrinkles. “Okay, if you say so.”
He laughs and plants a quick kiss on my cheek. “God, you’re fucking cute.” My face warms at the compliment, but I won’t be so easily distracted by flattery.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be spending your night at some wild party, getting shit-faced and reliving your glory days?”
He snorts. “As appealing as that sounds, I’d rather spend my last official night in college helping my girlfriend pack up her dorm and then watch a movie after, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He sets his hands on my shoulders, spinning me around to face my room. He walks me toward the door before giving me a playful tap on the ass. “Let’s hop to it, then. The sooner we pack, the sooner we start our foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
I glance back at him. “Wes…”
“Yes, baby?”
“There are like four-hundred Marvel movies…”
His grin widens. “I know. Good thing we’ll be seeing a lot of each other this summer. We’re gonna need all the time we can get.”
Despite my protest that Wes spend the night in his own bed, he refuses to leave. We fall asleep crowded in my twin monstrosity, and come morning, Wes groans, rolling onto his back and wedging me against the wall until I’m able to slip under his arm.
“I think I dislocated my shoulder,” he grumbles. “This bed is the devil.”
“Hey, don’t hate on the bed. It’s comfortable when your giant body isn’t hogging it,” I tease. “Plus, you have no right to complain. I told you to leave like five times.”
He blinks at me too innocently. “I wasn’t going anywhere without you last night, and you wanted to stay here. I’ll be fine. Just need to see a chiropractor. And maybe a physical therapist.”
I laugh at his whining and nudge his arm affectionately. “Mhm, okay. Whatever you say.”
Before Wes can issue any more complaints, there’s a knock on the apartment door. I blink, wondering if I imagined it, but when it sounds again, I jerk upright. My chest tightens with panic, and I throw back the blankets. “Shit, what time is it? Shit, are they early?”
It takes effort, but I somehow manage to roll over Wes’s body and set my feet on the floor, pulling on clothes and running into the bathroom to brush my hair.
When I step back into the bedroom a minute later, it’s empty. Wes is gone. Panicked, I burst into the living room and freeze at the sight before me.
Mom and Dad are standing in the doorway of my apartment, staring wide-eyed at the giant of a man in front of them. The giant of a man who can’t stop grinning.
“Are you sure we have the right apartment, Angela?” asks Dad.
“You guys are in the right place,” I call, widening my eyes at Wes as I step into view. I did not tell him he could answer the door. In fact, if he’d asked, I probably would have told him to lock himself in Quinn’s old room until it was time for them to leave. Not that he would have listened to me.
And Wes…well, Wes just keeps on smiling, an excited glint in his eye, almost like he’s been waiting months for this moment to occur. He extends his hand toward my father. “Hello, Mr. Combs. Mrs. Combs. It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you both. I’ve heard so much.”
My dad blinks in surprise and reluctantly shakes his hand. “Hello,” he says, confusion evident on his face. “And you are…”
“My name is Wes Tucker and I’m madly in love with your daughter.
” I swear, I choke on my own spit. My dad just stares.
My mom’s jaw hits the floor. Neither of them says a word.
“How was your drive? Not too long, I hope. Say, Mr. Combs, is that a Miller Hill Symphony Orchestra pin on your jacket there? My dad’s also a big fan.
We’ve seen them perform live a dozen times, at least.”
Still, neither of my parents say a word.
“Mom. Dad. Come in,” I say hurriedly. “My stuff’s all packed in my room.”
The two shoot Wes and me strained looks before my mom guides my dad into my bedroom. As soon as they’re out of earshot, I widen my eyes at Wes.
“What are you doing?” I cry.
Wes just winks at me, looking a little too pleased with himself. “I told you I’m good with parents. You’ll see. We’ll be joking like old friends within the hour.”
“Uh huh,” I tell him, rolling my eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Wes only smiles.
But sure enough, by the time all my belongings are loaded into the car, my dad and Wes are talking about who knows what, and there’s a smile on my dad’s face. A smile. He laughs at something Wes says, shaking his head, and I fight the urge to pinch myself. Surely this must be a dream.
“So, this is the boy?” my mom asks, drawing my attention away from the two. I can’t fully decipher the look on her face, but it’s not quite disapproval.
I nod slowly. “Yeah, this is the boy.”
“And you’re,” she seems to debate her words, “serious about him?”
I blink at her. “Um, yes?”
She studies me for a moment, saying nothing. Then, “Well, why don’t you invite him to lunch then?”
The world tilts on its axis, and I nearly fall over. “Seriously?”
A part of her still looks like she’s doubting her decision, but she nods. “Yes. We should get to know him better.” She glances toward the car, where Dad and Wes are still chatting like they’re suddenly best buddies, and frowns. “Although it looks like your father’s already one step ahead of me.”
And so, still reeling from shock and disbelief, I invite Wes to lunch.
He somehow makes it through the entire meal before saying, “I told you so.”