They continued to give me the silent treatment at the jewelry store, and I would be more upset if I wasn’t so damn happy being William’s girlfriend. It was everything I’d imagined and more. We got into a comfortable routine of watching movies with Elspeth most nights, cooking dinner together, having endless orgasms, and sharing muffled giggles until the sun came up. But we could both sense our time was running out. Elspeth was running the pub smoother than ever, and she was making enough profit to start paying off her debts and current expenses.
I could tell running the inn from across the world was wearing on William. If he wasn’t on the phone in the early mornings, he was on his laptop in the office or at the pub overseeing things with Elspeth. The only time he spared was with me, and I didn’t take it for granted.
I was finalizing some pieces for class while William worked silently on his computer. It felt so comfortable working side by side with him, with the hum of gentle jazz playing in the background. I could picture our future like this so easily, and it made my heart ache thinking ofhim going back home.
I stopped sketching and stared at him. He was so damn handsome, his hair slightly rumpled from running his hands through it and his head resting against his index finger as he sat deep in thought. He scratched the scruff on his chin and caught me looking at him.
William smirked. “Am I your muse?”
“Definitely,” I said as I bit my cheek.
William beckoned me over with a nod, and I put my pencils down to go sit on his lap. I loved that no matter how self-conscious I still felt about my body, I knew he could handle all of me.
I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and rested the other on his chest as I kissed him. “I know you have to go back home soon.”
William closed his eyes and nodded. “Aye, I’ve been putting off telling you. But I can stay for the church banquet.”
“Don’t worry about that, it’s not important.”
“It’s important to your parents. Have you thought about telling them about us yet?”
“They’re still pissed about me moving out. I just don’t know when the right time would be.”
“There’s never a right time, love, but I’d like to go to the banquet as your boyfriend.”
I chewed on my lip. “Can I think about it a little longer?”
I could tell he was disappointed, but he nodded and smiled forlornly.
“How about I introduce you to my aunt?” I quickly added. “She’s the best one in the family anyway.”
That earned me a genuine smile. “I’d love to.”
I knew how my parents would react to the news.It’s why I wanted to prolong telling them. It would ruin the happy bubble we were in, and I wanted to revel in the glow for just a little while longer. But I understood where he was coming from. I didn’t want him to think I was ashamed of him. Maybe Aunt Lilit would have good advice.
The next day, we made our way up the winding road to Lilit’s.
William’s eyebrow raised as he took in their surroundings. “Is your aunt an arms dealer?”
I laughed. “No. She was just very good at investing.”
William chuckled in disbelief. “Uh-huh.”
I would have visited my aunt more often, but I was so busy spending time with William that I hadn’t gotten around to it. Unsurprisingly, Aunt Lilit forbade me from coming anyway. She wanted me to revel in my newfound relationship and refused to be a “cockblocker.”. Her words, not mine.
It felt good having at least one family member know about William. I was excited for them to meet, and as we pulled up to her house, Lilit was already standing outside with a martini in hand and a butler waiting with a tray of drinks. She was dressed in a pale blue Chanel pantsuit this time, and her long hair was twisted into an elegant chignon.
Lilit raked her eyes over William as we approached across the gravel pathway. I hid my giggle at her blatant perusal, and William smiled politely.
“Well, well. This is the Scotsman?” she asked.
William reached out his hand. “Indeed. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lilit. I’m William.”
Lilit firmly shook his hand with a twinkle in her eye. “The pleasure is mine. Can I get your beer, or is scotchmore apropos?”
Lilit let out a girlish giggle, and I snorted and shook my head at her giddiness around William.
Luckily, he took it in stride. “Beer is fine.”
