Purposefully Coincidental ✓

57. Stories

Josephine

"You don't have to be nervous." Leo tells me as he helps me out of his truck.

"I'm not nervous," I say, fixing my dress while he grabs the bouquet I bought and the box of homemade muffins.

He closes the door and gives me a disbelieving look.

"Fine. I'm nervous. But the normal amount." I amend.

He takes my hand as we walk towards the enormous castle. Literally. It's insulting to call the three levels, vast villa with a circular driveway and columns leading to the entrance, something other than a castle.

"There's nothing to be nervous about." He squeezes my hand. "My parents are pretty chill. They're super excited to finally meet you. And we're only having drinks. Makes it more casual than having dinner, you know."

From his rambling, I should be the one to ask how he's doing on the nervous front. But I don't want to point out the obvious and instead lift his hand and give his palm a peck.

"I appreciate it."

When we finally enter the door, he reaches for the doorknob.

"Wait." I tighten my hold on his hand.

He chuckles. "I never want to hear that word again."

"We're just gonna enter? No knocking?"

He dips his face so we're face to face. "I live here, Josephine. I don't need to knock."

"Right." I nod. "Okay, then. Go ahead."

He opens one of the double doors, and we set foot in a wide foyer. There's a marble table in the center with some art pieces. To the right and left, some stairs lead to the east and west wing.

"Oh my god. This means I can finally see your bedroom!" I whisper in excitement.

"No."

I pout, knowing he's just messing with me.

He rests his hand on my back and ushers me further inside.

"Wait." I stop walking.

"Josephine." He groans.

"Let me hold the flower and muffins." I make grabby hands and he reluctantly hands them over to me. "It's more...proper this way."

He just shakes his head with a grin, and we resume our trek. I bought the biggest bouquet the store offered, knowing a smaller one would get lost in this enormous place.

We reach the garden. It stretches on and on and I quickly glance around. A barbecue set-up to my left, next to the swimming pool. To my right, there's what resembles a gazebo. And lastly, in the middle, his parents are standing up behind the round table to greet us.

His father takes the overflowing bouquet from my hands and sets it on the table. "Welcome. Nice to finally meet the woman who's got our son wrapped around her pinky."

I let out a nervous chuckle, not knowing if that's a good thing or a bad thing coming from Leo's parents.

"Nice to meet you, too." We shake hands.

I face his mother. Leo has a lot of similarities with her. They both have the same hair and eye color, the same upturn of eyes, and the same smile.

She's very gorgeous and I wish I'll look half as good when I turn her age.

"I made these for you." I thrust the muffin box outwards. "For you too, of course." I glance at Leo's father.

She takes it from me and engulfs me in a quick hug. "Very nice to meet you."