Page 62 of HER SISTER

"I'm pretty sure it was this one," I said, furrowing my brows as I looked between the baggage claims.

We had only just landed in Florida five minutes ago and I had already managed to make a mess of things.

AKA lose our luggages.

Mili hummed, looking past me as she read the illuminated baggage claim signs.

I furrowed my brows when she suddenly smiled, gently sliding her arm around my waist, "Baby it was baggage claim three instead of six," she said as she began guiding us over to the right one.

I nodded a few times, "Yeah-yeah, of course it was," I breathed out, feeling slightly stupid for not reading it correctly.

But in reality, I knew I was just putting pressure on this entire trip.

Mili turned to me as we stopped by the waiting crowd, "You're tense?" she murmured, gently pulling me further into her body.

I unconsciously slid my arms around her torso, "Sorry, I'm not trying to be," I forced out, knowing that this little two-night getaway was supposed to be a break for us.

Mili gave me a tilted look, "That was an observation, not a complaint. What's going on?" she said, carefully analyzing my face, "Are you nervous about seeing your parents?"

Automatically, I shook my head, "No not at all," I said, knowing that I was actually looking forward to seeing my parents, "I just really hope this works," I finally admitted.

Mili furrowed her brows, "Works?" she repeated, clearly not following.

I pursed my lips, "Yeah... like it helps with the whole situation back in—"

"Shhh," Mili immediately cut me short, pressing a brief kiss to my lips before she said, "What situation? There's no situation?"

I laughed slightly, "I see what you're doing," I said, knowing she wasn't referring to it on purpose.

Mili smirked slightly, "What am I doing?" she repeated back to me.

I only laughed again, pressing a fleeting kiss to her lips that she easily reciprocated.

Mili hummed, "All seriousness, this trip is to give you a mental break. Everything will still be there when we get back," she reminded me.

I nodded once, "Yeah, you're right," I whispered, smiling slightly as I leaned into her side.

Mili hummed, "Let's just be us."

My smile grew, "Lani and Ati," I said as I watched the luggage's started appearing on the conveyor belt.

Mili smiled slightly, "Lani and Ati," she repeated back to me, pressing a brief kiss to my temple before grabbing her suddenly ringing phone.

I tilted my head when she sent the call straight to voicemail, "Don't you need to get that?" I said, knowing I could get the bags if it was important.

Mili only shook her head as we walked toward the conveyor belt to get our luggage's, "It's work, which means it'll have to wait until we get settled in," she determined.

And while I wanted to argue her point, I could only recall the last time that I mentioned her putting work over me.

—

"Aw my little lovebug," my mom instantly greeted me with her typical bright smile.

I couldn't possibly hold back my grin as my eyes landed on the familiar woman.

Her long dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail while she wore her typical loose beach pants with a dark tank top and a sheer shawl over it.

Meanwhile, my dad stood beside her in his typical swimming trunks and light cotton t-shirt—his black hair was still damp, signaling that he'd just come from the beach.

"We missed you so much," my dad said, smiling as he pulled me into a hug first.

My mom playfully rolled her eyes as she jokingly pushed him away to pull me into a hug next.

Typical only-child behavior right here.

"And this is the girlfriend?" my dad said, suddenly addressing Mili as I pulled back from my mom's warm embrace.

I smiled as I took a sudden step toward Mili, happily looping my arm with hers as I said, "Yes, this is Milan—Mili for short."

Both my parents smiled as Mili held a respectful hand out to them, "It's nice to—"

My brows shot up when Mili's arm was forced to unravel from mine—suddenly being pulled into a side hug by my dad as they shook hands.

"Call me Drew," he insisted as they pulled back.

And before Mili could even respond, my mom pulled her into a brief side hug, "Lina," she introduced herself as they pulled back.

Mili gave them both warm smiles, "Thank you guys for letting me come so last minute," she said, taking a step back to stand beside me.

My dad only waved her off as he grabbed his luggage, "You're welcome anytime," he assured her.

Mili laughed, "Oh don't tell me that—I'd take this over LA any day," she joked, easily earning a laugh from my mom as we all walked into the familiar beach house.

Everything was just how I had remembered it.

The large open-concept living area smelt like the usual coconut and vanilla candles that my mom burned.

The modern kitchen still had its typical white sleek cabinets and matching marble counters—while the kitchen island cabinets remained a dark teal, which was a reoccurring throughout the house.

All the throw blankets were folded over the large white sectional couches—and the back deck doors were completely open, easily allowing the beach air in and the calming ocean sounds to flow into the house.

"Oh wow, Ati—you have to try these," Mili said, easily snapping me from my thoughts.

I couldn't help but smile as I looked over to my parents who stood in the kitchen with Mili—who was now eating my mom's famous coconut cookies.

A laugh fell from my lips as I walked over to them all, "Be careful—once you have them that's all you'll crave," I joked, picking up one of the cookies from the platter.

My dad laughed, "It's a blessing and a curse," he joked as he grabbed a cookie as well.

My mom jokingly rolled her eyes, "I've taught you the recipe. You can always make them for her back in LA," she reminded me.

Just like that, Mili was looking at me as she chewed her cookie, "You've got to make these for me," she said, nudging me slightly as she remained seated at the island, "Promise me you will?" she asked, practically giving me the puppy dog eyes, which I had somehow never seen on her before.

And I couldn't help but cave in completely, clearly not being able to say no to her beautiful brown eyes.

"Of course, I'll make them for you," I didn't hesitate to say, easily causing a smile to spread on her perfect lips.

I suddenly looked back to my mom who seemed to be looking between us with a small smile, "You know I don't have it perfected down completely," I pointed out, knowing my execution of the recipe could use some work.

My mom only shrugged, "Practice makes perfect," she determined, easily earning an eye roll from me.

Mili only hummed as she leaned into my side, "It definitely makes perfect—and trust that we'll be practicing it," she murmured, taking another bite of the cookie.

I could only laugh slightly, "Great, you got her hooked on cookies—now what?" I jokingly questioned before looking over to my dad, "Are you about to show her your stone oven pizza?"

My dad only held his hands up in defense, "Your mom was the one who bombarded her with cookies when she walked in," he defended, easily earning a playful smack to the shoulder from my mom.

"Says the one who helps eat those cookies," my mom retorted back.

I only shook my head at the two, "We're going to go get settled in—" I suddenly took the cookie from Mili's hands and put it back on the plate, easily earning a dramatic frown from her, "We'll be back down for dinner."

Mili stood from her chair with a confused look, "Can we circle back to the stone oven pizza?" she asked as we walked toward the stairs.

"Don't worry, it's for dinner tonight," My dad suddenly called out from behind us.

Mili hummed happily, "I like those two," she determined as she motioned over to my parents.

And even with the playful banter I just had with my parents over cookies and pizza, I couldn't help but smile even wider to myself—loving that they liked her and that she liked them back.

Maybe this weekend really is what I needed.