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She bites her bottom lip. "I don't know."
"Okay."
She turns; walks back; and after pressing the button for the elevator, she leans her back against the wall. Everything in me is screaming to stop her, but I can't. I need to respect her wishes, even if my heart hurts watching her leave. When the doors are closed, I keep staring at them, hoping that they will reopen and she'll appear. But when it doesn’t happen, I return to my apartment and go straight to my balcony, where I stare into the sky and scowl.You fucking dick. You lost her.
24
ALISHA
Arrival time:10:39 a.m."No delay, that's good."
I take a sip of my cappuccino after I find myself in a pleasant spot that has an excellent view of the arrival doors of Boston International Airport. A swarm of people moves through the halls, and a light flutter rolls through my stomach at the knowledge I'm about to see my parents after months.
I frown and glance at the foam in my cup as my mind drifts to Cole. It's been five dreadful days since I said I needed space, and I have to admit that I miss him and Samantha. It's like an ache that won't go away. I grab my phone, ready to text them, but I stop myself with a reprimand.Girl, pull yourself together. He needs to understand he can't act as a fantastic lover one minute and turn into that arrogant bulldozer the next.I let out a tired huff.God, that man is driving me nuts.
After leaving him, I went to my appointment with Amanda—who saw something was up the moment I walked inside. She dragged me to the nearby coffee corner, and after sitting down, I told her what happened,without revealing his secret. I said I didn't understand why he's acting like such a yo-yo.
Amanda listened to every word and ultimately said, "Honey, give him time." Then she turned the table on me and asked, "But talking about opening up, aren’t you still hiding what occurred from the people who love you most? Your parents?"
Her words struck a chord and kept resonating through my head for the rest of the day. When I got home, I picked up the phone and called my mom and dad. After some small chit-chat, I blurted out what happened without going into detail. They were in deep shock. I told them I was okay, but that wasn't enough reassurance for them, because this morning my father called, waking me up, telling me they were on their way and that they expected me to be at the airport—so here I am.
The sliding doors open, and I inspect the groups of people entering the arrival hall. Men and women carrying bags or pushing baggage carts walk through. I bite my lip when an attractive guy holding an adorable little girl in a pink dress strolls through. They smile and laugh at each other. Oh, there's something about a man with a child that makes my heart beat faster.
My eyes travel away from the handsome guy to the tall older gentleman walking a few feet behind him—Dad. I chuckle, seeing that even though he's fifty-eight and his classy blond, loosely combed hairstyle is messy, many women are checking him out. He doesn't notice because his focus wanders through the hall in search of me. My smile widens when my eyes go to my mother, who’s walking next to him. She wears a dark blue maxi dress with long sleeves and comfy black flats. Her hair is in a low bun, and strands of honey-blonde hair dance around her face as her eyes scan the area. They mumble something to each other, and my heart overflows with love seeing them together.
My mother’s lips twist up into an enormous grin when she spots me. She taps my father's arm and points my way. I throw the empty coffee cup in the trash and walk over to them. It isn't until I'm wrapped in her arms and taking in her jasmine-rose scent that I realize how much I needed this.
"Oh, my sweet Alisha, I've missed you so much," she mumbles.
"Hey, Mom."
The warmth of her embrace and the motherly love in her voice are what I missed most. She pulls back, cups my face in her palms, and observes me. "Oh, baby…” Her thumbs caress my cheeks, and when her eyes get damp, she pulls me into another hug.
"Clair, honey, give our daughter some breathing space." My mom lets go, and I turn to face my father, whose lips are a thin line. Heat rushes to my cheeks under his piercing gaze.
"You, young lady, have a lot to explain."
I let out a gigantic sigh. "I know, Dad, I just..."
"Come here," he mutters. I let out a breath of relief, and when I take a step towards him, he wraps his arms around me. Right away, my mother joins us.
"This is the best. My two favorite girls back at my side," he whispers. "We missed you so much, honey."
"I missed you guys, too."
My dad places a kiss on both our heads before taking his stand behind the cart. "Now, let's go home."
With our arms linked, my mother and I follow my father to the exit.
"Mom, can I stay for a day or two?"
She squeezes my side. "That is a silly question, Alisha. You are our baby. You can stay as long as you want."
I kiss her on the cheek and glance at my dad, who's walking with long strides through the halls. His height reminds me of Cole.Oh, stop thinking about that man.As we walk over to the parking lot, my parents start to tell me everything about their vacation.
The momentwe arrive back at their house, my father sits me down at the kitchen table. "Now, please, tell us exactly, from beginning to end, what happened that night. And no skipping parts, Alisha."
My mother places a hand on mine as I begin to speak.
