Christmas was great, and everyone was extremely sweet. Though, there were many questions about the mysterious man that was gonna come home, and I stuck to telling people that his name was Jack and to not freak him out.
«So... how is he?» Owen asked me, when we got a moment alone and away from all the chaos.
«He's so sweet. I think I'm falling in love with him, honestly» I answered, smiling, with a cup of tea in my hand.
«Good for you! Now, promise me that if I'm no longer with you in a few years, you'll name your first child Owen.»
«Who says it's gonna be a boy?» I teased, sipping from my cup of tea. «Also, why do you have so damn depressing? It's the holidays.»
«Just wanna make sure you'll be okay without me.»
We smiled at each other, until Owen's girlfriend came in.
«Hey, there's someone at the door. I think it's for you» she said, referring to me.
«Wha- Jack's supposed to get here tomorrow.»
«I don't know if that's him, but from what you told me he could be.»
I got to the front door and opened it, only to find Jack standing in front of me, with a gift in his hands.
«What are you doing here? You were supposed to come tomorrow!» I exclaimed, trying to comprehend what was happening.
«I can just come back, you know?» he joked around. «This is for you, by the way, from my family.»
I opened the little packet and found a hand-made scarf.
«My mom and grandma did it last night, finished it just before I got to the airport.»
«Thank them for me!»
I hugged him and kissed him, as a crowd of relatives started forming behind me.
«Is that Jack?» my grandma asked, pointing at my boyfriend.
«Oh, right. Everyone, this is Jack.»
«Finally we meet you. Cecily hasn't stopped talking about you» my mom exposed me, inviting him to come inside.
Before we could continue the conversations and introduce him to everyone, I helped him get settled in my bedroom, which was kind of retro, since I hadn't been home for quite some time.
«Wow» he chuckled, picking up a photo of me from seventh grade.
«Judging much?»
«Not judging, just... you have changed, and still haven't, if that makes any sense whatsoever.»
«It doesn't, but thank you so much. We should get to the party, I have a cup of tea to finish, and you have a lot of conversations to get through, mister.»
Before I could open the door, he hugged me and kissed me again.
«I have missed you, not gonna lie. Maybe when we get back I could introduce you to my parents? They'd like that.»
«Yeah, me, too.»
He put his arm around my shoulder, and as soon as we stepped in the living room, people started asking him questions of all kinds.
«Now, let's not scare him off. I'm William, but you can call me Bill. I'm Cecily's father, this is Cecily's mother, Penelope, and her brother Nate.»
«It's very nice to meet you» my mom said, as Jack was shaking my parents' hands.
«We're sorry about this, but usually during the holidays we get together a lot.»
«I love it, actually. How long have you been married?»
«We're divorced, we're not together anymore» my dad clarified. «In fact, this is my wife and Cecily's stepsiblings.»
«I'm sorry, I didn't know.»
He looked over at me and I mouthed an "I'm sorry".
«Hey, no biggie. We're not close during the year, but Penny always comes down to celebrate, as you can see. Now, let's introduce you to everyone.»
As he was learning the names of all my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, I looked at Owen, who put both his thumbs up to let me know that, so far, he approved Jack.
After almost thirty minutes, during which all everyone was talking about was my boyfriend's life, I saw on his face a little bit of tiredness.
«Guys, I know that you wanna get to know him, and you will tomorrow, but I think Jack wants to lie down a second after the flight, alright?» I said, taking his arm and taking him up the stairs.
«Lie down where?» my cousins started joking, much to their parents' dislike.
«Real mature, Owen» I replied, knowing too well who had started the joke.
We got back to my room, and he sat down on my bed.
«I could have stayed down there, you know?»
«I know, but I wanted to have some time to ourselves»
«I love you» he said, stopping himself and looking at me as soon as he realized.
For a moment I stood still, realizing that what we had was something real, not a made-up thing to pass time.
«I love you, too» I smiled, bending down and kissing him.
«Oh, thank god, cause I was already freaking out.»
«Your face was like this» I said, making a face and showing it to him.
«No, it wasn't» he defended himself, narrowing his eyebrows.
«Yes, it was» I chuckled.
«Well, alright.»
We laid on my bed, and he hugged me from the side, then five minutes later he shut his eyes.
«We've got a dinner tonight» I told him, making him open one eye.
«At what time?»
«Eight. Owen will drive us there.»
«Is he the one...?»
«Yes» I answered, not even needing to hear the full question.
«Then I'll try to befriend him as much as I possibly can. After this nap.»
I chuckled, as he started sleeping peacefully on my side, while I grabbed a book from the nightstand and started reading, standing still to not wake him up.
The holidays were great, thanks to the fact that Jack came up to see me and I got to spend precious time with my family.
«Are you ready to go?» Jack asked me, when I finished packing.
«I am.»
We left my bedroom and went to the living room to say goodbye to those who were still there.
«Travel safe» my dad said, kissing me on the cheek. «And Jack, it was really nice to meet you.»
«You, too, sir.»
«Bill. Remember, just Bill.»
«Sorry, Bill.»
I kissed goodbye to my nana, who was seated on the couch, and then to some of uncles and aunts, leaving for last Owen, my parents and my brother.
«You found yourself a good one» Owen whispered to me, while we were locked in a hug. «Marry him.»
«I know, but it's way too fast to think about that» I chuckled. «I'm really gonna miss you.»
«Me, too, but we might catch up in New York. I love you.»
I would have cried soon if I hadn't left, so I hurried up and said goodbye to my mom.
«So... what do you think?» I asked anxiously to her.
«I think he's the right one» she answered, giving me a small kiss on the head, like when I was little. «I would keep him close, if I were you.»
After all those goodbyes, Jack and I took a cab to the airport, while I cried my eyes out.
«It's gonna be fine» he reassured me, taking my hand and giving it a kiss.
«I know, it's just- I have never left home thinking that it could be the last time I saw someone.»
«He really seemed okay, Cec. Who knows, maybe nothing bad will happen. And by the way, your nana doesn't look like she's gonna go away anytime soon.»
I chuckled, remembering the poker tournament that took place at my uncle's house a few days before. Jack and my nana were extremely competitive, and it was really fun to see them so into the game while everyone else was laughing and chilling. In the end, despite her old age, my nana beat him.
«Thanks for these days.»
«I had a lot of fun.»
«It seemed like it» I messed around with him for this competitiveness.
We arrived at the airport on time, and we went straight to the gate. After an hour we were on our way back to New York City, with happy smiles on our faces and Lucy on the leash, ready to come home.
«Wanna crash at my place? It's closer than yours and my roommate is away for the holidays.» he proposed.
«Yeah, sure, if that's not a problem.»
«It's not. Let's go, then.»
YOU ARE READING
UNBROKEN || Cecily Strong
Fanfic«So... how is he?» Owen asked me, when we got a moment alone and away from all the chaos. «He's so sweet. I think I'm falling in love with him, honestly» I answered, smiling, with a cup of tea in my hand. «Good for you! Now, promise me that if I'm...
