Kissing the top of her head, I smile against her hair. “Don’t worry about me, baby.”
Tilting her head, her eyes bore into mine. “You make it hard not to worry.”
My chest tightens, this unfamiliar feeling I’ve never experienced before erupts inside of me…what is she doing to me?
“I’m going to Chase’s.”
“Promise me?”
“I promise.” I say, kissing her head again.
“Because you’re more than welcome to come home with me, my dad won’t mind. He’ll ask a few questions—okay, maybea lotof questions,” laughing, she shakes her head. “He’s a little protective over me. But he’d welcome you with open arms.”
“As much as your dad grilling me with questions sounds super fun,” I tease, and she laughs. “I promise I’m going to Chase’s.”
“Okay, but the offer is always going to be open for you.”
I smile, rubbing my nose across her hair line. “I appreciate it.”
And I honestly do.
Chapter 34
Greyson
“You ready for the mayhem to begin?” Chase chuckles as we round the back of his truck.
“Can’t wait.” I playfully roll my eyes.
It’s the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and like I promised Lilly the other day—who still felt skeptical about it—I’m spending it with Chase and his family, who have become my family over the years.
“Omg,” a squeak comes from behind us, we both spin as Mrs. Kingston stands with the front door wide open and does a happy dance, clapping her hands together excitedly. “My boys are home!”
“Here we go.” Chase shakes his head, a soft smiling grazing his lips as his mom rushes toward us.
“God, I missed you.” She runs toward Chase and wraps her arms around him, squeezing him tightly like she’s afraid he’s going to disappear.
“Mama.” He laughs, getting knocked back from the force.
“Look at you,” she holds onto his arms, leans back and pouts. “You look so grown up.”
“Mama.” He lifts his fingers to her face and wipes away the tears falling down her cheek.
“What? It’s been months since I last saw you,” she pats his cheeks. “Look at your beard…you look so old.”
“Mama!” He gasps. “I’m twenty-one!”
Opening the back of his truck, I take our bags out so Chase and his mom can have their moment. And I find myself smiling as they talk. The way he interacts with his parents and siblings is adorable, it’s a side not many people have witnessed.
And I’ve told him on several occasions that he should start showing this side to people more, most of campus believes he’s just a sour soul, but that’s far from the truth. If they saw the real him, they’d love him even more. But his response to that was a scowl and a very kind “fuck off”—I’m being sarcastic about him saying that kindly.
“Oh, don’t remind me,” she playfully rolls her eyes. “One minute you’re coming out of my vagina, and the next you’re a grown ass adult.”
“Mama!” He scolds her. “Nobody needs to know about your—”
“Oh, shush,” she swats him on the arm. “It’s natural to talk about those things.”
“Yeah, but nobody wants to hear you say the word vagina.”
