When I woke up the next morning, I saw that Hope was still asleep, nestled comfortably on top of me. Checking the time, I realized it was still early. Today is the day I've been dreading the most... today, I'm finally meeting my girlfriend's family.
We decided to visit Hope's family this weekend, and I'm extremely nervous. Meeting the Original family—it's intimidating, to say the least. I've read all the books in the library about them. I've only had the pleasure of meeting her aunt Freya briefly, from that day we all got our memories of Hope back, but we didn't spend much time together since she had to leave the next day.
What if they don't like me? What if they kill me? Or worse, what if they don't let me date Hope anymore? The anxiety gnawed at me as I lay there, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
Carefully, I shifted, trying not to wake Hope. She stirred slightly but continued to sleep peacefully. I gazed at her serene face, feeling a bit more grounded. She loves me, and that has to count for something, right?
With a deep breath, I gently slipped out from under Hope and got out of bed. I moved quietly around the room, getting ready for the day.
Maybe they'll see how much I care for her and accept me. Or at least not kill me on sight.
As I finished dressing, I felt a soft touch on my arm. Turning around, I saw Hope looking at me with sleepy eyes and a warm smile.
"Morning," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
"Morning," I replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You ready for today?"
She nodded, stretching languidly. "Don't worry, they'll love you. And if they don't, well, they'll just have to deal with it."
"But I want them to like me. They're your family, the most important people in your life. Are my clothes okay? Should I wear something more formal?" I started rifling through my closet for different outfits, my anxiety ramping up with each passing second.
Hope's soft chuckling pulled me from my frantic search. "You're so cute when you're nervous. Come here," she said, patting the bed beside her.
I sighed and walked over to sit next to her. She cupped my cheeks, gently pulling me closer until I was looking directly into her mesmerizing blue eyes.
"They're gonna love you. Wanna know why?" she asked, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Because I'm adorable?" (you really are adorable 🫵🏼✨) I offered, attempting to lighten the mood.
Hope laughed. "Well, that wasn't what I was going for, but yes, that too. They're gonna love you because I love you, because you make me happy. And that's all they want for me."
I felt a surge of warmth and relief at her words. "Did I mention how lucky I am to have the most amazing girlfriend in the whole world?" I asked, smiling.
"You could do it more often," she teased, her eyes sparkling with affection.
I leaned in and kissed her softly, feeling the nervous tension begin to ebb away. "Thank you, Hope. I needed that."
With that, we both got ready to go. We packed a few clothes and headed to my car. When we got there, we saw the twins waiting for us.
"What took you so long?" Lizzie asked, annoyed.
"Sorry. Since when are you a morning person?" I replied, loading the car.
"We've been waiting for ages," Lizzie grumbled.
"It's actually been fifteen minutes," Josie corrected, giving her sister a knowing look.
Oh, haven't I mentioned? The girls are coming with us. I think Lizzie might have a little crush on Hope's aunt, Rebekah. I haven't asked questions, and I don't plan on starting now.
