Running Into You

Chapter 24

Emma

The next few weeks fly by in a blur. Henry finished his lesson on badminton and then he moved on to archery and then softball. I didn't realize PE actually taught stuff. Henry happened to be a very good teacher. He seemed to know everything there is about the sport he was teaching. He could answer any question given to him without hesitation. He'd start each lesson with a short history lesson on the sport and then the rules and other fun facts. I think I would have enjoyed the class even if I wasn't sleeping with the teacher. His attitude towards me at school continued to be professional and nobody let on to have any idea we were together. Even Caleb seemed to be fooled. 

After school I would tutor on Tuesdays and do my ACT study group on Wednesdays and my SAT study group on Thursdays. Afterwards I would run with Henry and then follow him to his apartment. We would cook dinner together every night and I would leave at 10 and head home. Mom would ask everyday if I would bring him by for dinner. I told her I would when I thought it was serious enough. She told me that spending every evening there was serious. I told her soon. I would bring him by soon. I hope I can hold her off until after I graduate.

One night in March I am laying on my stomach on his bed reading a book while he surfs the internet on his laptop. He has one hand on my calf rubbing lightly. I'm engrossed in my book A Farwell to Arms, visions of nurses and soldiers running in my head when out of nowhere he tells me he wants me to meet his parents. I put my book down and look back at him. Not sure I heard him right I ask, "Excuse me?"

He closes his laptop and lays it on the bed beside him. "I think it's time you meet my parents," he repeats his announcement. 

"Do they know anything about me?"

"No. I haven't even told Piper we're back together."

I sit up and turn around and face him. "Why is that?"

He holds a piece of my hair in-between his finger and studies it meticulously as he talks avoiding my gaze. "When you left I was a real mess. I was hard to be around. A real sad state. She blames you. She kinda hated you for it," he says in short all most embarrassed sentences. 

"Henry, does she still hate me?"

He looks back up at me. "I'm sure she doesn't."

"What is she going to think when she finds out we're back together?"

He takes a deep breath and drops my hair. "I don't know. She's probably not going to be happy about it."

I roll my eyes. "When do you want me to meet them?"

"Can you come to the beach house next week?"

"For how long?"

"For the whole week?" he asks hopefully. 

"You want me to spend spring break with you and your parents at their beach house?" I ask with my eyebrows raised.

"Can you?"

"I don't know, I'll have to run it by my mom."

"Caleb's going to be there."

"So you want me to tell them I'm spending the week with Caleb?"

"Will that make it easier?"

I bite the side of my lip. "It might. He still comes around on the weekends and plays football with Scott. Mom really likes him."

Henry rolls his eyes and leans back on the pillows. "That's just great," he says annoyed.

I squint my nose up. "Sorry."

He places his hand on my knee and shakes it. "It's okay, as long as it gets me what I want." He sits up and his hand slides up the inside of my thigh and he kisses me.