Always There

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen:

Lexi's POV

The absolute horror on Bryce's face as the twins stare at him is perhaps the funniest thing that I've witnessed in a long time.

Both Adriana and Addison have their hair up in high ponytails, both wearing black jeans and white T-shirts. I have no clue how I'm expected to tell them apart today, but I don't think I'll bother thinking too hard about that as I don't even want them to be here in the first place.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Bryce hisses, and I watch as his eyes fall shut in defeat.

"I didn't know that they would be here either," I whisper in his ear. having to strain up on my toes to do so.

I wish that my parents actually talked to me. I was a little upset that they hadn't mentioned that Bryce, Leo, and Elena would be staying over for dinner tonight, but this is at a whole other level. I mean, having Uncle Michael staying here for Christmas again this year makes me really happy, but I would've liked to be made aware beforehand.

All Bryce does is shake his head in defeat, his eyes darting between Adriana, Addison, and Charlie. I watch a scowl grow on his face, and I almost reach out to take his hand before one twin asks, "Do you have a girlfriend yet, Bryce?"

Bryce's eyebrows raise for a moment before his face settles back into a neutral expression. He looks down at me briefly before his gaze snaps back to the twins as he says, "Yeah. Sorry."

In perfect unison, Adriana and Addison both exclaim, "What? Who?"

Bryce lets out a gruff laugh, and he temporarily ignores the question as he walks past the twins, lifting my suitcase into the house. Charlie and I make eye contact for a moment, and though I can see a little bit of regret there, I just give him a small smile as I follow Bryce into the house.

I'm at least happy to hear that my parents didn't go out of their way to speak about my relationship with Bryce, as it's already bad enough that they didn't tell me that we had family visiting.

"She's the sweetest and most beautiful girl in the whole fucking world," Bryce eventually responds, his face lighting up with a small smile.

The twins huff as they continue to stare at Bryce in an extremely disturbing manner. Charlie shuts the door behind everyone, and it startles one of them for a second before the other asks, "Is she from New York? We heard that you had moved there for college. You're going to Columbia, right?"

Bryce chuckles some more. "Nah. She's Canadian."

Adriana and Addison seem to be in deep thought as my dad, mom, and uncle all walk into the foyer through the main hallway.

I feel a massive smile creep up onto my face at the sigh of my parents, and before I know it, I've been pulled into a hug by both of them.

"Hi, Lexi. We've missed you," my dad whispers, and I squeeze them firmly as I feel tears of joy begin to well-up in my eyes.

I felt like I was coming home as soon as the house came into view from down the street, but I'm beginning to think that this is actually home: a hug from my parents.

But then my mind wanders, and I'm unable to remind myself that what feels even more like
home is a hug from Bryce.

He's my happy place. I feel the safest and most secure in his arms, in his bed, in his heart, in his life.

"I've missed you guys too. I love you," I respond as we all slowly untangle our arms. My parents are smiling down at me as we back away from each other, and if isn't long before I feel Charlie sling his arm around my shoulder.