Stay With Me

Chapter 9

"Welcome to Canada!" I kiss Ian on the cheek as our plane lands.

"So do I become a hockey fan now or later?" Ian jokes.

"Truth is, I don't really like hockey. But keep that between us." I wink and he starts laughing.

We grab our carry on and head down to baggage claim with mom walking in front of us. My brother is picking us up and should be waiting for us when we get outside.

"Holy crap! You didn't tell me it'd be this cold!" Ian wraps his arms around me and I laugh.

"I thought you would know! It is Canada." I say.

"I'll make some hot cocoa when we get to the house." Mom says with a laugh.

"There's Alex!" I point to my brother pulling the car up to us and wave excitedly.

"Nina!" Alex jumps out of the car and hugs me.

"I've missed you Alex." I tell him.

"I've missed you too." He smiles.

"Alex this is Ian!" I introduce them.

"Nice to meet you Alex." Ian shakes his hand and Alex pulls him in for a hug.

Ian and Alex put our luggage in the trunk and we pile into the car to head to the house.

"So this is where I grew up." I smile at Ian as we walk inside the house.

"Make yourself at home Ian. I'm going to shower and start dinner." My mom says and heads to her room.

"I have to leave but I'll be back in like an hour." Alex says and we wave bye.

"I'll show you around." I grab his hand and lead him through the house.

"And this is my room." I walk into it and pray that it's clean like I left it.

"Cute." Ian walks over to my bed and picks up a stuffed animal cow I've had since I was 3.

"Shut up." I laugh and take it from his hands.

"Do you want to go to the coffee shop down the street? I can get my friend Julie to meet us. She lives just a few houses over." I sit down on the bed beside him.

"That's fine with me babe." He smiles.

I text Julie and let her know we are going to the coffee shop.

When Ian and I walk inside we give our coffee orders to the young man working and take a seat by the window.

"Hi pretty lady!" I turn to see Julie walking towards us and I jump up to hug her.

"Oh my god I've missed you so much!" I say while hugging her.

"I've missed you too Nina." She smiles when we pull apart.

"Julie this is Ian, and Ian this is Julie." I introduce them.

"Hi Ian!" Julie shakes his hand.

"Nice to meet you Julie, Nina's told me a lot about you." He tells her.

"She's told me a lot about you too." Julie smiles.

She sits down in front of us and we start talking.

"Nina you guys should come out tonight, come hang out with the gang and I. We miss you." Julie says.

"I don't know, I just.." I start saying until Ian interrupts me.

"Come on Nina, go. You need to see your friends." Ian says and squeezes my hand.

"Where would we go?" I ask her and she smiles.