What could go wrong when taking a road trip, alone, across the USA after a break up? Well, I can answer that for you.
Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. That's what could happen. The universe is really out to get me, these days.
That is...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
May 22, 2022
"Are you ready?" I look over at James who is sitting beside me on the couch.
"Yeah. It's long overdue if im being honest," he smiles.
I brush a strand of hair out of his face before grabbing my phone and pressing call.
After two rings my parents' faces come up on screen. Smiling as usual.
"Hey! I feel like I haven't seen you forever."
"Elle, we have just been texting, so technically you haven't seen us since the middle of April when you left." I cringe.
"I'm sorry!"
They both offer sympathetic smiles, "we understand. You needed to find yourself."
"Which I think I have," I turn to look at James, "with the help of a special someone." His eyes shimmer with words gone unspoken.
"Hi, Mr, and Mrs. Merritt," he smiles politely.
"It's great to finally see who has brought happiness back to our daughter," my dad smiles, I wince in ever so slight embarrassment.
"And please call us Lamont and Bailey," my mother insists.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to talk to you," he apologizes.
"No, we completely understand. We are also dedicated to our jobs." A phone rings in the background. "Duty calls. Thank you for taking care of our daughter. We love you, Elle. Have a wonderful day," my parents say before ending the call.
I sigh, "see it wasn't so bad was it?"
He sits silently for a second, regrouping. "So I brought happiness back into your life, huh?" He smirks.
I facepalm, knowing he wouldn't have missed that. "Alright, alright. My parents are a little over dramatic." James opens his mouth to speak but is stopped when the oven timer goes off. Saved by the bell.
I pull the pie out of the oven and set a new timer for it to cool before we head to Sunday dinner. I head upstairs to change. I've practically moved into James's room since the thunderstorm.
I take off my dress and head to my suitcase to grab a fresh one, pulling it over my head and flopping down onto the bed. I take a deep breath, loving James's signature scent. It smells like cinnamon, but slightly more musky, and I'm drawn to it like a moth to flame.
I lay here for a while, staring out the ceiling, not wanting to get up. A knock on the door draws my attention. James is leaning against the door frame smiling down at me.
"Busy," he asks, walking toward me. I nod lifting my arms into the air. Chuckling, he slides into my arms and turns us over so that he's on his back and I'm laying on his chest. I nuzzle my face into his neck, inhaling the best smell in the world while he rubs my back.
I kiss his neck, just once. To thank him for simply being here with me. "Babe, we need to leave soon."
"I know. Just one more minute," I cuddle in closer, not wanting to ever let go.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hey," I greet cheerily, entering the house with the pie in hand.
"I thought you weren't going to show up for a minute there," Lucas laughs, following us into the kitchen.
"Yeah, someone needed a few more minutes," James outs me to everyone.
"I brought apple pie," I smile, putting it on the counter, hoping to make up for the fact that I made us late when I refused to let go of James for a solid 10 minutes.
"Perfect timing, dinner is done," Darby comes over to hug James and I.
"Alright, lets get out to the table. I'm starving." Lucas ushers us through the doorway.
We all laugh but take our seats, serve our plates, and dig in. Dinner is relatively uneventful. Full of laughter and constant conversation, just like last Sunday.
"Who's ready for dessert," Darby asks, clearing the plates away. "I know I am. I can't wait to taste this epic apple pie that will 'rival mine.'" I laugh, trying to conceal my nerves as the pie is served up and forks are readied to eat it.
I hold my breath as everyone takes their first bite, waiting for their reactions. All at once, the three of them sigh, in what I believed is contentment, while chewing. I bite my lip, still not sure what it means.
"James was right about you. This is amazing," Lucas says. I smile, relieved when Darby and James agree.
In less than 30 minutes the whole pie is gone and I've only just finished my first slice.
Lucas leans back in his chair, patting his stomach. "You have to make that next week too," he insists.
Darby's face suddenly falls, "next week is your last dinner isn't it?" I look around the table at the glum faces, slowly nodding, not wanting this time to be over yet. "You have to come back and visit us! You are part of the family now," she insists, Lucas joining in.
I grin, happy to be included in their family, "of course. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't," I say, reaching for James's hand at the same time as he reaches for mine.
We meet in the middle, lacing our fingers together and smiling that we read each other's mind. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Darby and Lucas give each other a look before clearing the table together.
"Ready to head home?" I nod, definitely ready to be alone again. We say our goodbyes to Darby and Lucas before jumping in the truck and heading home.
