Page 69 of Mine

“How are we going to do that?” I asked, staring at him.

Cal smiled and winked at me. “Do you think we could get a night away, or not?”

I laughed nervously. “Are you serious? First, that’s a flight away from here. The nearest airport is Minneapolis. What would I tell my parents I need my passport for?”

He nodded with understanding. “Yeah, we can do it another time. Maybe for your birthday?” His eyes met mine.

“My birthday?!” I squealed with excitement before I hesitated. “I would love that, But Cal, I need my parents to be okay with us.”

I stared at the remnants of my breakfast. He walked around the table, swivelling my stool around so he stood in between my legs.

“Hey,” he whispered, lifting my head back. “I’d love that. I want to be with you. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do.”

He was thinking of my birthday, which was six months away.

He will do anything to be with me.

Tears threatened to spill down my face as our mouths met. It wasn’t a long walk back to the sofa...

***

I couldn’t bear to be away from Cal, but I knew I had to return home, or my parents would become suspicious. He drove me home, our fingers laced together as much as we could.

“When will I see you next?” I asked as he drew up beside my house. “It’s not like you are nearby anymore.”

I cast a sad look in his old home's direction.

He turned towards me, kissing my hand. “I’ll take you for dinner later,” he suggested.

“What will I tell my parents? I can’t keep lying,” I dropped my head down, groaning with frustration.

Why is everything so difficult?

He watched me for a moment, biting on his lip, “Right, come with me. Let’s do this.” He got out of the car and walked around to open my door.

I stay seated, confused. “I’m sorry, do what?”

He smiled at me mischievously before he chuckled. “Come on. If this goes wrong, I promise you—I won’t leave you.”

I stared at him open-mouthed as he leaned on the car door, a smile on his lips.

“Baby, if I have learnt anything at all, it’s that life is too short. I love you. Let me meet your parents.”

Chapter Twenty Five

GRETCHEN

I slid my legs out of the car, my heart in my mouth as I considered every possibility that could go wrong.

“Cal—-”

He put his finger to my lips and shut the car door behind me. He leaned against me, his lips pressed against mine. “Let’s go.”

I was breathless from his kiss, his touch,damn,even his presence.

He laced his fingers through mine again and led the way up the driveway, towards my home.

“They thought I was at Rosie’s,” I hissed, my eyes widening as he smiled at me, ringing the buzzer.