“But you don’t have to try to impress your parents.”
“And you don’t have to try to impress them, either. They want to meet you because they know how much you mean to me. They’re not going to care what you’re wearing.”
“It’s important tome, though, that I make a good impression.”
I exhaled. “Okay, then I would say go with this outfit.” Picking up the soft blue dress, which was more casual and perfect for Marco’s, I handed it to her. “My mom’s favorite color is blue.”
Her eyes lit up. “So is mine!”
Laughing, I bent down to kiss her nose. “I know. See, you already have something in common.”
Vivianne chewed on her lip. “We have two things in common.”
“Oh yeah, what’s the other thing?”
“We both love you.”
My heart felt like it grew twice its size in my chest. We hadn’t said we loved each other yet; although, I’d wanted to say it at least a dozen times in the last month. I cupped her face with my hands and met her gaze. “I love you too, Viv.”
I brushed a light kiss over her lips and was about to deepen it when the phone rang.
“Should we ignore it?” I asked, drawing back slightly.
“Yes, I think we should,” Vivianne giggled before wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me again. “Do we have time?”
I lifted my arm and shook my head. “Unfortunately, we don’t. Later, though?”
She winked. “I’m holding you to that.”
Vivianne’s leg bounced the entire drive over to Marco’s, which wasn’t a long drive, but traffic was bad this evening and it slowed us down. The only reason we didn’t walk was because it was raining outside. Not even Stevie Nicks, her favorite musician, could calm her nerves.
I pulled into the parking lot and turned off the car. “Viv, we don’t have to do this tonight if you’re not ready.”
She turned her whole body and looked at me. She wore such a pained expression that I was ready to just start the car again and take her back to her place.
“Ladd, I need to tell you something before we go in.”
Her eyes were filled with a sadness I’d never seen before. I swore it looked like she was about to cry.
“Okay, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?”
She swallowed hard, then closed her eyes. She remained that way for nearly a minute, lost in her own internal battle. Once she opened her eyes, she exhaled and forced a smile. “I just… I really want your parents to like me, and I’m just nervous.”
Feeling the sense of dread lift off my shoulders, I exhaled in relief. I thought for a moment she was about to break up with me. But she’d just told me she loved me, so that didn’t make sense.
“Viv, they’re going to adore you. I promise you.”
She smiled, and a nervous bubble of laughter slipped free. “Let’s do this then.”
“Okay! Let’s meet the parents!”
I jumped out and jogged over to the passenger side, helping her out. I took her hand in mine and gave it areassuring squeeze as we approached the entrance. Once inside, I glanced around. I saw my mother, father, and David sitting at a large table, deep in conversation.
“There they are!”
We started to walk toward the table, and I could feel Vivianne slow down, almost like she was ready to turn and bolt.
The second my mother saw us, she jumped up. “Ladd! Look at you!” she said, before engulfing me in a hug that nearly took my breath away with how hard she was squeezing me. She drew back and gave me a once-over. “You look so happy, sweetheart.”
