Hello Brooklyn ► Zack Ryder

Chapter Nineteen

There was a knock at the door, and when Zack answered it, Brooke was standing there. She looked both worried and nervous, which could never be a good combination.

"What's wrong?" He instantly asked.

"My parents want to meet you."

He blinked. "That's it?"

"What do you mean that's it?" She asked, incredulously. "Didn't you hear me? My parents want to meet you."

"I heard you," He said. "I thought something horrible happened. But it's just your parents wanting to meet me?"

"You don't understand," Brooke protested. "They embarrass me all the time. I don't want you to meet them, or else I'll never hear the end of it from you."

"Well, they're not embarrassing me, so I don't have a problem with meeting them." Zack smirked.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Brooke, I'm sure."

"I'm going to go call them, then," She said. "I'll let you know what's going on when I'm done."

"Okay. I'll be here."

***

"I don't know if I can do this."

"It's going to be fine, Brooke."

"But what if they don't like you?" She asked, frowning.

"They'll just have to deal with it," He replied. "I'm not going anywhere."

"They didn't like Jace," Brooke revealed. "They said he didn't seem like a good guy, or like he was good enough for me, but I didn't listen. Look where that got me."

"I am going to try my hardest to make sure your parents like me, Brooke," Zack said. "I'm not like Jace, and I don't want your parents thinking that I am."

Brooke took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready."

They both got out of the car, walking up the driveway to the front door. Brooke knocked on the door, and Zack's hand found hers. He gave it a soft squeeze, and it helped calm her nerves a little.

Once the door opened, though, all her nervousness melt away when she saw her parents' faces.

"Hi!" She greeted, smiling. She gave them a hug, then backed away to stand next to Zack. "Mom, Dad, this is Zack." She grabbed his hand again. "He's my, uh, boyfriend."

"It's nice to meet you," He said, smiling. He shook their hands. "I'm Zack Ryder."

"Well, it's nice to meet you," Her mom said, giving him a small smile. "Come inside, you two! It's freezing out there!"

Zack and Brooke walked inside, and they were lead to the living room. While her dad – Zack learned his name was Mark – went to the kitchen to get drinks, her mom – Laura – quickly brought out the photo albums, and Zack couldn't help but smile.

"Mom, no!" Brooke protested, frowning.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to show him any of the embarrassing ones," She assured her.

"They're all the embarrassing ones!" Brooke sighed, crossing her arms in defeat as her mom began leafing through the pages.

After only making it through two pages, her dad yelled, "Laura, will you come in here for a second?"

Laura rolled her eyes. "He doesn't know where anything in that fridge is. I'll be right back." She handed the album to Zack, then got up and walked away.