Drifting Deception

Chapter Twenty-Eight

HENRY

I nervously tapped my foot against the floor as I waited for Sydney to get ready in our bathroom. My family were living in the Netherlands at the moment, and I knew I wouldn't be able to come here with Sydney and not see them. Ma had sent six messages today begging us to have dinner this evening, and I had to say yes. But I also needed to see them because, fuck, I missed them.

We weren't the type of family to talk twenty-four-seven, but when we were together, it was as if we'd never left each other's sides.

Sydney opened the door a few seconds later. Her blonde hair was curled, and she wore a red lipstick that matched her heels. Fuck she was gorgeous, and part of me wanted to call the dinner off just so I could spend some "one-on-one" time with her.

"Hey," she said, her beautiful smile making mine peer through. "Sorry, I took so long to get ready."

"No, you're just on time," I said as I held open our front door. I laced my hand in hers as we headed to the elevator.

"Who are we seeing?" she asked, sounding like a kid wanting to know what their Christmas present was.

I laughed, swinging her hand as we walked out of the hotel. I closed my eyes, almost wishing I didn't have to tell her so she couldn't turn around and run back inside. I couldn't beat around the bush any longer though, as she stared at me with wide, worried eyes.

"We're meeting my parents." I gave her a sympathetic look as I tried to read her reaction. I really wished we were meeting them under different circumstances, a.k.a., with her as my actual girlfriend. But to them, that was exactly it. She was my girlfriend. The confident part of me wanted to tell her how I truly felt, but the shy, anxious part was too afraid to hear her answer. She was in this agreement for Jeremy. That was the whole reason we were together. It was selfish of me to want to take her away from that. No matter how much I wanted it.

"Your parents live here?" she asked. I still couldn't gauge how she was feeling.

I nodded. "They have a beach house. Been living in it for years now."

She smiled. "That's awesome." She fiddled with her hands as we walked along the road. "God, this is crazy. I've never met anyone's parents before."

"Jeremy didn't introduce you?"

She sighed. "They lived in the South and never flew up to visit us. I suggested we plan a trip down there, but he said I didn't need to meet them. I don't know why that didn't turn me off immediately. It was disrespectful to them and me."

What a wank stain. Literally. I was done trying to justify my insults in my head. This man was the epitome of a red flag. A big part of me was hoping she'd change her mind about him. But I upset her the last time we'd discussed it, so I had to keep my mouth shut.

"Where are we meeting them?" she asked after a minute.

"Right over there." I pointed to a small Italian restaurant with red bricks and a small flag hanging over the door. My parents absolutely adored the food here. They said it was the closest to what they'd had in Italy. It did help that the owner was a family friend.

I opened the door for Sydney, the bell above rattling and drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

My mother's face lit up first before she whacked my dad on the side and mumbled something in French.

"Bonjour," she beamed as she slid back her chair. She made a beeline for Sydney, who pulled her in for a warm hug. "Oh, you are so beautiful."

Sydney laughed as their hug continued for a few more seconds. My dad held out his hand, his grey hair and tired eyes would've been alarming had he not been like this his whole life. He was a hard worker, but unfortunately, that meant his body took a toll as well.