Reach (Love Me Now Series #2) | Complete

👑 Chapter 30 👑

Markey's POV

My alarm went off and I began to get ready for work. As I am getting ready, I was thinking about the date I had last night with Mariah. Things didn't go completely as planned, but things turned out better than I had hoped.

I pulled out my phone and shot Mariah a quick text. I wanted her to meet my parents, before my mother decided it was time to meet my demise. I know that normally meeting the parents would be a big step in a relationship, but I met Mariah's parents before our relationship even began.

I go in my car and made my way to the office. As I sat down in my chair, Chaz walked in followed by Brent. The two had matching grins on their face.

"So, how is our new couple?" Chaz asked with a grin.

"In all actuality, we had a great time."

"Oh, we already know. The girls have been on three-way since 3 this morning. Apparently, you are one the most romantic man on the planet."

"You guys stuck, you know that right?"

"So, I have a new contract for you."
Brent always had a new contract for me. After all, that was his job. Brent booked all of the contracts, and Chaz helped out with graphic design. He created my website and adds the graphic aspects to my designs.

We began to talk about this theater that I will be building next summer. I have the plans already drawn out, but there is one aspect that I can't quite get to line up with the rest. See, the owner wants a bit of a homely feel to it, but there is just one thing that is missing.

I needed a break. Brent and Chaz had already left, but I had been staring at the building plans for 3 hours. Maybe once I had something to eat, I could figure out what was missing. I pulled out my phone.

Me: Hello beautiful, wanna grab lunch w/ me?
Beauty: Well hello there, n where?
Me: Wherever u wanna go
Beauty: Time?
Me: I will be there in 10
Beauty: Kk

I let my assistant know that I was leaving the office. I put on my shades as I walked out into the sunshine. I got in my car and began to drive to the boutique.

I entered the boutique and I saw Mariah talking to a customer. When the customer walked away, I walked up behind Mariah and wrapped my arms around her. She turned around and smiled up at me.

"The two of you truly are cute together."

"Thanks, you know, this is your doing. Just think if you didn't become friends with someone so stubborn. What kind of person wouldn't give a perfectly handsome guy like me their number?"

"One who could see the asshole through your facade."

"Yet and still, I ended up with your number."

She smirked and said, "Only after I made u work for it. Hey Lacey, we're on our way out for lunch. Do you want us to bring you something back?"

"No, I'm good. Chaz is bringing me lunch. See ya later."

We walked out the boutique and I held the door to my car open for her to enter. I then rounded the car and hopped in.

"Where do you want to go beautiful?"

"Let's hit up McDonalds."

We made our way to McDonalds as Mariah sang along to the radio.

I had to circle around the building twice in search of a parking space. We placed our orders and sat down. One of the workers came to the table and asked if I needed anything. She refused to even acknowledge Mariah's presence.

Before I could give her a piece of my mind, I heard a familiar voice say, "I wonder who ordered the buttermilk chicken tenders with a hoe on the side?"

I turned to see Leya and Brent taking a seat. I was even more surprised when Mariah said, "They're like flies girl, they come for everything."

By now, the girl was fuming. I could literally see steam coming from her ears as she walked away. Meanwhile, Leya and Mariah were cackling like hens. Putting these two together is asking for trouble.

"Leya, what you doing here? I don't know if I want you around Mariah, you a bad influence."

"I am your twin, in every way. The only difference is who we like." The girl had the nerve to wink after that comment.

"Babe, must you try to give your brother a heart attack? I think he believed you."

Leya and Brent began to laugh. I'm not gone lie. I'm happy it was only a joke. I don't want my sister out like that.

"Sweetie, we just started dating so I will let it slide this time. For future reference, you should know that you have no say so when it comes to my friends. You can tell me you don't like them or things that you don't like about them. At the end of the day, who I decide to be friends with, is my choice."

Brent and Leya began to laugh harder.

"How about this, I won't tell you who not to be friends with, unless it's my sister?"

"It's truly cute that you think that this is a negotiation."

"Number 328"

"That's our food. See you guys later." She said then blew a kiss to Leya. That girl is so dramatic, she acted as if she caught it and it caused her to fall out if her chair. I shook my head as I walked out of the restaurant. I thought back on what Mariah said. Honestly, it wouldn't be fair of me to try to regulate her friends.....

We got in the car and drove to the park. I pulled out a picnic blanket and placed it on the grass. I tried to find an area with as much tree coverage as possible. I sat down on the blanket. Mariah was taking her precious time trying to daintily sit on the blanket. I grabbed her waist and pulled her on top of me.

"You know, I like this position. Maybe next time we should try it with fewer clothes."

She rolled off of me and said, "Maybe one day, if you're good."

I could never get tired of spending time with this girl. There was just something about her. I can't quite put my finger on it....

She sat beside me and we ate our lunch. It was sweet how she kept glancing my way to see if I was looking. When we finished eating our food, I pulled her in my lap. I buried my face in the side of her neck and we just sat there. She wove her fingers through mines and began to hum. Soon, her alarm was going off.

"I have to head back to the shop."

But I'm not ready to let you go."

"Then it's a good thing I'm yours, huh?" She said as she stood up. She pecked me on the cheek, and we began packing up our picnic.

We drove back to the boutique in comfortable silence. Her fingers were once again woven through mines. As we got closer to the shop, I was filled with a sense of dread. What was going on? I have never experienced anything like this before. When we pulled into the parking lot, I brought her hand to my lips. I placed a kiss on the back of her hand. It never fails, that blush shines through every time.

She ducked her head to let her hair cover the blush.

"I love to make you blush babe, why hide it?"

"So you admit that you are doing this on purpose?"

"You must know how fascinated I am by your blush. That and those cute little dimples that you try to cover up."

"Flatter me some more why don't you?"

"Always babes."

I exited the car and walked around to open Mariah's door. Once she stepped out of the car, I closed the door and wrapped my arm around her waist. I walked with her inside and waited while she sat her purse down. When she came back to the front, I lightly grabbed her hand. I kissed her hand and said, "I will see you soon."