BWWM | Oneshots & Short Stories

His - Part Eight

When I pulled into my driveway, I could see the living room's glow despite the curtains being pulled shut. It was nearly eleven PM and the closer I got to the front door, the bigger the knot in my stomach became, each lie I'd told earlier was surfacing to the forefront of my consciousness, making the knots worse and worse.

I unlocked the door and immediately kicked my heels off before placing my keys on the key ring and heading further into my home.

"Oh my goodness, Ryan!" My mother rushed over to me with her arms open. I didn't care that she had the stench of raw onion juice on her hands, I let her hug me and suddenly I remembered just how much I missed her. I hugged her back fully, for a brief moment I felt like a little girl again. "My baby! Look at you, oh you look exhausted." She pulled back with her hands clasping my shoulders and I could see face was a mixture of concern and love. "John! Shut that darn TV off, Ryan is home!"

My mom kissed both of my cheeks and pulled me with her to the kitchen. She had all types of produce out, chopped this and minced that. She loved to cook which is where I got my love of cooking from. "What's all this?" I asked as my father finally made his way to us.

"Hi daddy!" I jumped into his arms. He hugged me so tightly I could feel his heartbeat.

"My baby girl!" He lifted me off my feet and I hugged him closer. They smelled like home and though Eric made this place feel like it, having them here was incomparable.

"I'm making your favorite tomorrow. I just wanted to prep because you know how impatient your father can be." She swatted him with her towel as she walked deeper into the kitchen. My father finally set me on my feet then he planted identical kisses on my cheeks. "It sure is late, I thought you said something about a good work-life balance?" My mother commented. I dropped my satchel and iPad on the island and took a seat in one of the two chairs.

"Yes, work did run late but I also got a little side tracked. I wanted to be here to greet you both though, I swear." It was true, I did, but I was selfish and wanted to see Eric more. Only slightly though, it was a close race.

"Mmhmm." My mother squinted her eyes and gave me a knowing look. Thankfully though, my dad didn't inquire and she didn't elaborate on the dirty look she'd given me.

"You should go freshen up, get out of those work clothes." My mother commented as she deftly diced a scotch bonnet pepper.

"I want to sit here and talk to you," I declined because once I go up to my room, I'm not coming back down.

I answered approximately a million questions about my new job, my new coworkers and what it was like being the boss, and I dodged just as many about my love life and what it was like working with Eric.

Once my mom finished prepping for her cook tomorrow, her questioning died down, especially when she noticed my dad dozing off at the dining table nearby.

It was just after midnight when I finally made it upstairs to the safe haven of my bedroom. I decided to shower first before texting Eric to come over. That would ensure my parents would be in bed and not wondering the halls.

When I first moved in, I was on the fence about the balcony outside my master suite. It would've been perfect except for the stairs that led to the patio downstairs and overlooked my backyard. I don't know, it felt too accessible for a possible intruder — regardless of the privacy fence surrounding my home. I made sure to keep my balcony doors dead-bolted and the day after I moved in, I had motion sensors put near both the balcony and patio doors.

Tonight though, I had never, ever been so grateful. It was one AM and Eric had parked down the street and come straight up to my room by way of that previously detested curved staircase.