Page 116 of Let the Light Shine Through

Damn.

A million more of this moment wouldn’t even be enough. I never want this to end, and I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure it doesn’t.

I prop my phone up, stealing a photo of her.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“Add it to my collection.”

Gia tilts her head, her gaze on me, not so much narrowing as intensifying.

Feeling even hotter, I shrug. “I’ll probably hang it on my wall.” It’s still bare and could use a little art.

“If you think that’s a good idea,” she says, getting up to grab her order.

Now my gaze is narrowing.

“I do…” I say to her back. At least I did.

No, I do. It’s a great idea.

Unless Gia has a reason to think it’s not…

She returns, and I open my mouth to talk about Friday, but the bell above the door jingles and there’s something about the way this one sounds, the way it feels—like change—that pulls me from our little bubble.

My mom and dad come waltzing through the bakery’s front door, casting their gazes across the small eat-in area. As soon as they spot me, their postures elongate, causing their noses to lift.

“Canadian Geese,” Gia mutters, unaware they’re my parents.

So, it’s not just me seeing it. Do I do that, too? Lift my nose like that? God, I hope not.

I stand to greet them both, hugging my mom and giving my dad a firm handshake behind her back.

Pulling out of the hug, I gesture to Gia, but my mom says, “Oh, our apologies. We didn’t mean to interrupt. You weren’t home when we stopped by, but Fletcher told us where we could find you.”

“Mom. Dad. This is Gia, my girlfriend.”

If Kylin dropped a muffin right now, you could hear it. Gia’s hands tighten on her bacon sandwich, the wrapper crinkling loudly, and my dad clears his throat, shifting on his feet.

“Oh, right. I think Roswell mentioned something about a girlfriend,” my mom says dismissively, and I frown. That’s not how I’d put it.

“Hello, dear. I’m Lynnette, and this is my husband, Warren.” She extends her hand to Gia but Gia’s wide eyes swing from my mom’s to mine, and leaning out of view of my parents, I give her a subtle headshake. I didn’t set this up.

There are certain lengths I’ll go to. Stalking my girlfriend outside her doctor’s office, yes. Ambushing her with a surprise visit from my parents in a public setting, no. I wouldn’t do that to anybody.

Gia sets her food down to take my mom’s hand. “Nice to meet you both. Roz talks about you all the time.”

Now everybody’s lying? I don’t really like talking about my parents. Not with Gia. Mainly because they pale in comparison to hers.

She shakes my dad’s hand too, his stare falling to the many rings lining Gia’s fingers. He’s been quiet so far. Too quiet.

“Roswell, I have to be honest. I didn’t think you had it in you to settle down, son.”

There’s the Warren Andrews-Smith I know. The one that doesn’t pull any punches.

“What can I say? I was waiting for the right person,” I tell him before Gia can try to gut me in front of my parents by correcting him. While we may not be “settled down” exactly, I am serious about Gia. She has to know that by now. I even gave her the top two drawers of my dresser. They’re technically still filled with my clothes, but they’re my clothes that she wears when she’s over. And when she leaves. Basically, she’s always wearing my clothes these days, but the way I figure it, with the amount of time I spend consumed by thoughts of her, it’s only fair she be wrapped up in reminders of me.

“Um, want to join us?” Gia’s wide eyes flit around the small group. “Kyle over there makes a killer scone. They’re super moist.” Immediate regret registers on Gia’s face and I bite down on my lips.