The Queens of San Diego (18+)

Chapter 27

Izzy

As we arrived in Virginia, I couldn't stop thinking about how everything had shifted in the last few weeks. Lukas' dad's funeral had been hard on all of us, especially Lukas, and I still felt the emotional weight of it. But I was determined to focus on the positives. Conrad and I were here to take a big step—meeting his parents for the first time. I tried to keep the excitement and nerves balanced, telling myself it would all go smoothly.

Conrad, as usual, was laid-back, looking like he'd just rolled out of a surfboard shop, while I was carefully put together, wanting to make a good impression. My mind bounced between wedding plans and how this trip would fit into our lives moving forward. Meeting the parents, especially when marriage was on the horizon, felt like such a big step, but I was ready.

When we landed at Norfolk International Airport, the air was thick with Southern humidity, and I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness buzzing through me. Conrad, though, seemed perfectly at ease, pulling his duffle bag over his shoulder and giving me a wink as we walked through the terminal.

"There's nothing to worry about," he assured me for what felt like the hundredth time. "They're going to love you."

I smiled back, hoping he was right. As we walked out toward the pick-up area, a sleek Audi Q5 rolled up in front of us. The car was spotless, polished to perfection, and it stood out in the sea of taxis and rental cars.

"Here they are," Conrad said casually, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation. The doors swung open, and his parents stepped out—Sandra and Jerry. Immediately, the contrast was striking. While Conrad was dressed in his usual beachy, casual attire, his parents looked like they had just come from a yacht club luncheon. Sandra was dressed in crisp white, her hair perfectly styled, and Jerry was in a navy blazer and khakis, looking every bit the Southern gentleman.

"Conrad, you look like a bum," Sandra said with a shake of her head, but there was an affectionate teasing behind her words. Her eyes then fell on me, scanning me from head to toe, and her expression softened into a smile. "But you, Izzy, look stunning! I honestly don't know how Conrad found such a beautiful woman looking the way he does."

I laughed, caught between the compliment and the jab, and quickly responded, "Thank you! I guess I have a soft spot for his beachy vibe."

Jerry, ever the charmer, stepped in with a chuckle. "Well, he must get it from me. You know, back in my day, I was quite the dashing young man."

Sandra rolled her eyes but smiled, and I could tell this was their dynamic. "Oh please, Jerry, he looks like me, and you know it."

The humor eased my nerves a little as we all laughed and loaded our bags into the trunk. The vibe was already different from what I had expected—less stiff, more casual—but still, there was a layer of formality to them, a polish that stood in contrast to Conrad's laid-back nature. It was like stepping into a different world, one that was more structured and put together, yet still warm in its own way.

As we drove through Norfolk, heading toward the Virginia Beach coastline, I looked out the window at the passing scenery, but my mind kept bouncing back to Conrad's parents. This was just the beginning. Meeting them, stepping into their world—there was so much more to uncover, especially with the wedding looming in the background. But for now, I focused on being present, feeling grateful for the moment and curious about what lay ahead.

The drive from the airport to Virginia Beach was serene but filled with quiet reflection on my part. The journey took about twenty to thirty minutes, but it felt longer, with my thoughts racing alongside the steady hum of the car's engine. Sitting in the backseat of their sleek Audi Q5, I couldn't help but think about how stark the contrast was between Conrad's current lifestyle and the world he grew up in. His parents—dressed impeccably, clean-cut, and polished—seemed to exude a wealth and sophistication that didn't quite match the free-spirited, van-dwelling Conrad I had fallen in love with.