Finding Us (Christian Interracial Romance)

The Weight of Four Years

Jeremy

The sun dips low on the horizon as I pull onto the streets of my parents' neighborhood. The air is warm, the kind of late winter day that only Los Angeles can deliver, promising spring without fully committing to it. My fingers tighten on the steering wheel as I pass by Mrs. Evans' house—her hydrangeas are in bloom, just like they were the summer when everything fell apart.

Four years. That's how long I let Hannah poison my thoughts, let her lies build walls between me and two of the people who meant the most to me. But today, Cecilia and I talked. Really talked. For the first time in years, the weight on my chest doesn't feel suffocating.

Griffith Park was the right choice. Neutral territory. When I saw her there, the way the afternoon sunlight caught her hair, I realized just how much I missed her. How much I ruined.

Now, as I pull into the driveway of the house, my heart pounds harder than it should. A deep breath doesn't help.

The front door opens before I even make it to the steps. Athena stands there, one hand on her hip, the other holding Annaliese against her side. My niece babbles something indecipherable, waving her tiny fist like she's cheering me on.

"How did it go?" Athena asks, her voice steady but her eyes searching mine.

I don't answer right away. Instead, I drop my bag by the door and step forward, pulling her into a hug. Annaliese squeals between us, squirming in protest, but I don't care.

"Thank you," I say, my voice cracking. I pull back just enough to look at her. "I mean it, Athena. If you hadn't sent Cecilia that recording..."

She waves me off, though her eyes glisten. "It was the least I could do after you finally came to your senses and told Hannah off. I've been waiting four years for you to wake up."

"Four years too long," I mutter.

Athena shifts Annaliese to her other hip and tilts her head, her grin softening. "You apologized to her, though, right? Not just for being an idiot, but for everything?"

"Of course I did. I told her how sorry I am for believing Hannah, for every fight, for every time I doubted her." My throat tightens just saying the words.

"And what did Cecilia say?"

I hesitate. "She said... she said she doesn't know what's gonna happen next. But she forgave me."

Athena's grin widens into something triumphant. "Good. About time. Cecilia's going through  a hard time in her career right now and she's always been one of the most forgiving people I know. Don't mess it up, Jeremy."

"I won't," I say firmly.

Annaliese interrupts us with a dramatic yawn, then reaches for me. "Unca Jemy!"

"Hey, you!" I scoop her up, earning a delighted giggle.

The sound of a car door closing draws our attention to the driveway. Dad's booming voice carries through the evening air. "We're back! And we got the good ice cream!"

Mom follows behind him, balancing two bags of groceries in each hand like a pro. "Athena, Jeremy!" she calls as they head toward the door. "Help your father with the rest of these bags, will you?"

Before I can move, Amber's voice calls out from the kitchen. "About time you two got home! I was about to raid the pantry for dessert."

Amber is our second oldest sibling and she acts like it. Always in charge, always teasing but in a way that reminds you she loves you. She pokes her head out the door, her dirty blonde mane tied back. "Jeremy! Hey, stranger. Did you forget your way home, or what?"