Bridget
Packing for a mini vacation with Elias’s family feels like the most natural thing in the world.
After I let slip about my feelings for him earlier in the week, and he confirmed his feelings were mutual, we fell into a little bubble.
We watched movies and cuddled—a lot. And as soon as I closed the door behind him, after he left, I missed him.
God, I sound pathetic but it’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about someone, and the whole experience is exciting.
Natalie was right, sometimes putting yourself out there does pay off.
Elias told me he’d come and get me after he was finished work around lunch time, and seeing as I had some vacation days to take, I decided to take the day off to get ready.
Going away with your fake fiancé’s family isn’t something I’m experienced with.
Tom and I hardly spent prolonged periods of time with each other’s families, so this is all new to me.
Elias reassured me this would be relaxing and that I could be myself without worrying but that didn’t get rid the anxiety I feel about being around them.
It’s not like they’re not amazing, because they are, but I’m worried that I might slip up and ruin this whole thing.
I’m lacing up my boots when there’s a knock at the door.
I pull it open and smile, happy to see Elias’s face.
He looks incredible in his casual attire—dark navy jeans and a khaki green hoodie underneath a light brown jacket.
His hair looks messy and slightly overgrown, and I want nothing more than to run my fingers through those silky locks. I feel my mouth going dry at the sight.
God, he’s so fucking beautiful.
“Hey,” I breathe out, struggling to find my voice. “How did you get in?”
I grab my puffer coat from the rack and fold it over my arm as he drops down to pick up the duffle bag that sits at my feet. He lifts his left shoulder and a coy smile pinches at the corner of his mouth.
“Your neighbour.” He smirks. “Plus, I wanted to help with your bag,” he tells me as he steps forward.
His large, warm hand finds the dip in my waist, and I watch as he leans down to press a soft kiss against my lips.
My body has a mind of its own and I lean into his touch almost immediately.
I’ve never been so reactive to someone before and the comfort his presences brings me is something I’m not prepared go to without.
“You look beautiful,” Elias says against my mouth as he peppers me with a few kisses.
I scoff as I pull back. “I look like I just rolled out of bed.”
A mischievous look twinkles in his chocolate irises. “If you just rolled out of bed, there’s no chance you’d be wearing clothes.” I feel my cheeks heat at his words. “Especially if I had my way.”
I shove him back ever so slightly and shake my head, chuckling as he reaches down to intertwine our fingers, giving my hand a squeeze. There has been a shift since the two of us admitted how our feelings for one another are developing and it feels like things are slowly falling into place.
Elias holds my hand the entire way down to the car, only letting go to shut the passenger door once I’m situated in the seat. I wait as he puts my bag into the trunk and comes around to the driver’s side. He slides into the car and smiles.
“It’s about a six-hour drive, so we should be there around seven if the roads are clear.”
The two of us fall into a comfortable silence as Elias navigates his way out of Briarwood, toward Nelson. Once we’re on the highway Elias’s hand finds refuge on my right thigh and turns on a playlist. “I Wanna Be Yours” pours through the speakers and my ears prick up instantly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elias look over at me hesitantly. “You said this was your favourite song, right?”
I nod, swallowing the lump that begins to form in the back of my throat. “You remembered,” I whisper.
Elias squeezes my thigh. “I want everything that’s important to you to be important to me, too.”
It’s almost seven thirty when we turn onto a winding driveway, and as we get to the end, a large barn conversion appears, tucked in amongst several fir trees.
It’s a two storey building and has a large gravel entrance where two other cars are parked.
Elias pulls up next to a Lexus and shuts off the engine.
“This place is gorgeous,” I say in awe as I look up at the cream panelling and dark oak shutters.
Elias climbs out the car and rounds the front, opening the door for me.
I step out of the car just as the pale blue front door swings open.
Olivia comes bounding out of the house, and Oscar laughs as he watches his daughter run straight past Elias to me.
Elias looks at his niece in disbelief as she wraps her arms around my legs.
I bend down and lift her into my arms and hug her.
“Hello, angel.”
She squeezes her arms around my neck and then pulls back, looking at me with a bright smile.
I wait by the side of the car as Elias grabs out bags out of the trunk and once the car is locked, the three of us head toward the house.
Oscar steps to the side as we walk in and then pulls me in for a hug.
“It’s good to see you again, Diddy.” He smirks and I find myself blushing. “Liv, why don’t you take Diddy to the living room to see Mommy and Grandma?”
Olivia nods and squirms in my arms until I let her down, and as she reaches for my hand and drags me over the threshold of the living room I hear Oscar whisper to Elias.
“You’ve got it bad.”
Elias sighs. “Don’t I know it.”
I blush at his response but don’t get to hear what else is said as Olivia pulls me into large room.
It’s cozy, with a three-seater couch and matching loveseat.
There’s a brown leather recliner, where Helen is sitting, and I admire the bookcases behind her, all of which look like they’re about to collapse under the weight of what has to be over a hundred books.
The space is homey and I already find myself not wanting to leave.
Isobel is sitting on the loveseat with a sleeping Freya in one arm and she smiles tiredly at me as I approach and as I look over to Helen, I frown slightly. She’s a lot frailer than the last time I saw her and I immediately feel a heaviness settle over my chest.
“Granma!” Olivia giggles as she pulls me toward Helen. “Aunt Diddy is here!”
Helen looks over at Isobel with an amused smile before looking at me. Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she stands on unsteady legs and I rush forward to hold onto her.
“Bridget.” She beams. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
I lean forward and press a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course, darling. You’re family!” She reaches forward and cups my cheek in her palm. “Speaking of family, where is that handsome son of mine?”
A hand lands on my lower back and I lean into the touch. Elias appears at my side and keeps his hand on me as he leans forward to hug his mom. Helen looks between the two of us with a warm and happy smile, clasping her hands together softly.
“I’m here,” he says. “How’re you feeling today?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “I’m fine, but enough about me.” She looks between the two of us with narrowed eyes. “How’s the wedding planning coming along?”
Elias and I share a look and I don’t miss the way Isobel and Oscar look between each other with a smirk. “Honestly, we haven’t had much time to organize anything.”
I watch as Elias winces and shakes his head and I immediately realize I shouldn’t have said that when Helen says, “Oh, well then. We can get some planning done this weekend—I’ll help, of course.”
Oh boy.
Oh fucking boy.
Elias looks over at me as if to say, you’re on your own, before he walks over to the couch and falls down next to his brother. Isobel hands him Freya and winks up at me as Helen gently grips my elbow.
“Oh, there’s really no need…” I trail off, looking over at Elias for support but he only smirks, motioning for me to carry on digging myself deeper.
Asshole.
“I really wouldn’t want to take up this relaxing vacation planning for the wedding.”
She shakes her head, and I know by the bright look on her face that we’re going to be planning a wedding regardless of what I want. Helen walks me toward the door.
“Come with me, love,” Helen says warmly. “We can get a good start before dinner.”
I look over my shoulder at Isobel, Elias, and Oscar to see the three of them hiding their laughter behind the palms of their hands, and I glare.
Traitors, I mouth, and catch the bark of laughter coming out of Isobel as we round the corner and out of view.