AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Smiling, I pressed my lips against his. “I don’t think you were cut out for making pottery.”
I was about to wrap my arms around his neck, but stopped because of my clay covered hands.
“Sorry. You just showered, and now you’re covered in muck.”
“Well, if we’re not... pottering anymore, I suggest we hop back in the shower and clean off.”
I screwed my face up in a show of mock thoughtfulness. “Hmm, I think I can handle that. But we can’t take too long. We have to get ready to go to Mum’s.”
Drew’s lips found my neck again. “I never want to rush when I’m with you.”
If I were a cartoon character, a bunch of red love hearts would have popped up all around me.
Raking my hands through his hair - I didn’t care about the mess anymore, I said, “A slow shower sounds really good.”
It took gargantuan effort for Drew and me to force ourselves out of the shower... and then out of bed. We could have happily delayed a family gathering for a few more days. Not because we didn’t want to see them, but because the idea of Drew and Jason being in the same room was about as appealing as a massage from Edward Scissorhands.
As we walked down the path to the front door, nerves bubbled in my stomach, and from the sweatiness of Drew’s palms, I knew he felt the same way.
“It’s too late to back out, isn’t it?” he asked, his feet slowing the closer we got.
“Way too late. Come on, it’s just our parents, and Lucy, and-”
“Jason. Who thinks I’m an evil manipulator.”
“He doesn’t think that.”
Drew looked down at me, eyebrows raised.
Okay, that was pretty much what Jason said. And more.
“Are you ready?” I asked, as we reached the front step.
Drew nodded, so I opened the door and we went inside. Right away, a loud, happy scream pierced my ears, and my eighteen-year-old sister bounded up to us like an overexcited puppy, and threw her arms around us.
“You’re here!” She hugged us hard, her blonde hair hitting us in the face in the process. “I’m SO happy for you. You’re going to be the best couple in the whole world!”
I giggled, hugging her back, and even Drew couldn’t stop himself laughing.
“Good to see you, Lucy. And thank you.”
“Thank you! I’m going to be super popular at college tomorrow! We might get to study you.”
Lucy was working towards an A-level in media studies, and having rock star friends made her an instant hit when she began the course the previous September. Adding in a sister who’d become an overnight talking point would catapult her to a whole new level of cool.
“Always nice to have your completely selfless support.” I rolled my eyes.
“Oh come on, you know I’m kidding! Sort of.”
Lucy dragged us into my parents’ living room, where my mum and dad, Drew’s dad, and Jason all sat around stiffly, straight-backed and slightly tense. It was astonishing how British everyone became when they were nervous. Anyone would have thought they were the ones who’d had a life-changing day instead of us.
“Why does it look like a budget version of Downton Abbey in here?” I asked, glancing at each of them in turn.
Michael was the first to laugh, and everyone else soon joined in. The tension dissolved, along with the stiff upper lips, and he stood up to greet us.
“Welcome home.” He gave my shoulder a warm squeeze, then patted Drew on the back.
It wasn’t long before Drew and I were drowning in a sea of hugs, kisses, and congratulations, and some of the hurt about not telling them about our relationship fell away. We were lucky to have such supportive families.
