Choosing you | LisRene AU [BOOK 2]

4

"I'm terrified," Lisa said to Irene, accepting the cup of coffee from the brunette and nearly downing the whole thing in a few gulps. When she lowered the cup, wide dark brown eyes were staring at her with concern. "What? I'm about to interact with my dad for the first time ever."

"Second time."

"That doesn't count," Lisa huffed out, looking down at her cup. "What if he hates me?"

"Then it's his fucking loss," Irene snapped, drawing Lisa's gaze back up, "because he already missed out on one shot to have you in his life. You're incredible, and he's seriously blind if he can't see that."

Lisa's cheeks tinged pink. "Thanks."

"You should probably go, you're gonna be like five minutes late now," Irene teased, giving her a soft smile of encouragement. Lisa nodded.

"Better than being early. I don't want to seem overeager."

Irene looked amused. "Oh, of course not."

"Hey, I'm serious," Lisa said, doing her best to glare at the brunette, who just gave her a wide smile. "Okay, I'm going. Love you, I'll come back over here once it's over."

"Alright, text me if plans change or anything. I'll be here all afternoon anyway."

Lisa nodded, leaning over the counter and placing a soft kiss on Irene's lips before turning and leaving The Bean. She finished her coffee during the short walk over to the sandwich place that she'd texted the address of to Marco earlier and trashed the cup in one of the garbage cans she passed. When she got to the little cafe, she peeked through the window and saw him sitting down at a table, doing something on his phone as he waited.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and started over to where he was sitting. He looked up at the sound of the door and smiled as soon as he saw her. Standing, he extended a hand. "Lisa. It's so good to see you."

"Hi," she returned meekly, taking his hand and shaking it. "Have you ordered?"

"I actually had a late breakfast," he admitted, frowning. "I guess I kind of forgot that lunch meant food. If you wanted to get something, go on ahead. I'll pay for it."

"No, I'm not... I'm not really hungry," Lisa lied. There was no way that she would be eating while he just sat there. "Thank you, though." She sat down across from him and sized him up for a moment. "My mom said that you live in New Jersey."

Marco nodded. "Yeah, that's where I moved to when I left here. It was a big change, having grown up in such a small town. This place isn't so small anymore, though. It's gotten much bigger. Seems like a nicer place to live than when I lived here."

"People are saying it'll be officially a city in the next few years," Lisa commented, and for a split second, she wondered if she'd still be in Virginia when that happened. Marco chuckled, nodding.

"So I've heard. Anyway, you go to YGU, don't you?"

"Yeah, I'm starting my second semester of my sophomore year," she answered, nodding stiffly. "I'm majoring in psychology."

"Oh, that's so cool," Marco said, smiling. "I used to wonder what kind of things you'd pursue in life. With your mother being who she is, I always figured it would be something sophisticated like that."

Lisa tilted her head a little but decided not to comment on the statement. "I went in as an undecided major, but I figured it out pretty quickly. It's a really interesting practice."

"Your mom pays for your college?"

"Well, I got a half ride," Lisa admitted, "so I just had to live on campus for three semesters, and they paid for the first four semesters in full. Not the last two years, though, I'll have to come up with the money for that. I'm sure my mom will help, but I have a job and well, help."