“Kate.” Brandon repeats, waking me by brushing his lips across my temple. “I need to leave soon.”
“No, you don’t.” My protest is half-yawn, half-plea.
He chuckles, his rough morning voice warming my forehead. “Yeah, I do.”
“Nope.” I pull my pajama-clad five-foot-four body onto his and try to pin him down. I yank my comforter over our heads, sealing us in. “We’re quitting our jobs. College degrees are lame. We can stay here forever.”
“Is that so?” The vibrations of his voice rumble through his bare chest, and I snuggle closer.
“Yes, it’s so.”
“As much as I know you hate to be wrong, love, you are.”
His kiss ruffles my hair within the confines of our impromptu blanket fort. He fiddles with the strap of my black silk tank top.
“But could I take you to dinner tonight?”
My head pops up like a deranged gopher. “What day is it?”
“It’s January 29th—Friday. Why?”
I roll off his chest with a groan. “Tonight is the Lunar New Year Parade. I promised Liza I’d go with my family.”
Brandon considers this for a while. “And your Mom still hasn’t talked to you? Not since they kicked you out?”
“Nope. They’ve only communicated through Liza.”
A muscle in his jaw feathers. “Was law school really that important to them?”
I sigh. “I don’t think it’s truly about law school. Not anymore, at least. I think they hate that they can’t control me. I was always their puppet, and now that the strings are cut, they don’t know how to act. It’s probably all my fault, since I was the one who changed the rules.”
Brandon’s eyes cut to mine. “Don’t make excuses for them. Their behavior is childish and petty. No parent should be able to treat their kid this way.”
I trace a finger along his chest. “So your parents must be pretty great then?”
I feel him stiffen before he relaxes. “My mom’s got her issues, but she’s the kindest person you’ll ever meet. She’d give you the coat off her back. She’s also the worst cook.” He chuckles. “The fire department knows her by name.”
My laugh is soft. “She sounds awesome. I’d love to meet her sometime.”
Brandon rolls over until we’re face to face on my pillow.
“You would?” he asks.
My eyes rake over his tanned skin, green eyes still hooded with sleep, hair mussed against my pillowcase. I lift his fine gold chain necklace from his chest and roll it between my fingers.
“I would. Isn’t that what boyfriends and girlfriends do? Meet the parents? I think I’d like to meet your mom and dad.”
Something dark flashes in his expression before it’s gone.
He gives me a gentle smile. “Then I wanna meet yours. Why don’t I come to the parade with you tonight? I’ll be there if anything goes down with your parents.” He winks. “My motorcycle makes a great getaway.”
I laugh, but it feels like someone is pouring warm syrup inside my chest. It’s sticky and sweet, but the sensation is also new and slightlyunsettling. Brandon smiles down at me with so much adoration, I’m unable to swallow for a moment.
If Brandon comes tonight, will I wake up tomorrow with him still adoring me? Or will him being around my family have him realizing just how disappointing I can be?
“I think I’m scared,” I whisper.
“I know. That’s why I’ll be there. Just say the word, and we’ll leave.”
