The Pop-Up Shop

Chapter Twenty Three

APRIL'S POV

'No, seriously Luna. I'm actually gonna use the shower speaker all the time. You didn't waste your money' 

 'Good. That shit was expensive' Luna breaths a sigh of relief and I laugh as I continue to pack my bags for Sydney in a couple of days.

'I'm surprised that I haven't gotten much hate for Ruel's post' I speak honestly, wanting to get it off my chest a little bit

'Yeah. No offence but same. I thought everyone was gonna be super protective of him but everyone was so supportive!' Luna agrees, putting the wrapping paper in the bag.

'Now I wish we went public earlier' I mumble in all honesty as put I my final tee shirt into my suitcase and Luna sits on it as I zip it up

'How long are you gone for?' Luna asks and I get up and pull the suitcase from the floor

'A week? I think. I'll probably end up staying in Sydney for a couple extra days' 

'Right...Yeah. Didn't Ruel invite you to a party the night you arrive?' Luna brings up what I had told her a couple days ago and I shrug.

'Yeah. I don't really wanna go because I'm pretty sure it's at Marys house and we both don't have the best track record of each other' I mumble, both of us now sitting on my bed.

'We meaning you'

'Well would you like it if your boyfriend ex turned up at his hotel doorstep in America to say happy birthday?' I shoot back and she purses her lips, knowing I was right

'I guess not...Um...April, can I talk to you about something?' she mumbles and I nod.

'Yeah, sure'

'So I went and saw a therapist-' Luna starts but I heard a faint shout from downstairs

'Hang on. What mum?' I get up and go to my door to listen to what my mum said. 

I face back to Luna, 'We're leaving for dinner now. Sorry' she smiles and grabs her stuff before leaving and I finish getting ready for my birthday dinner.

'I'll have the grilled salmon please'

'Great. It will be out shortly' I give the waiter a poliet smile as he walks away

'Aw, he's cute!' mum gushes next to me but I furrow my eyebrows

'Mum, I have a boyfriend' I remind her and she nods

'Right. How is that going?' she asks

'Really good. Long distance is hard but it's all worth it when we see each other' I explain and she smiles

'Yeah, it is' I jump at the familiar voice and climb out of my seat to see him standing behind me. 

I fall into his arms and he kisses my forehead, 'W-What? How? Huh?' I share confused looks with both Ruel and my family before taking his hand in mine, 'Um, guys. This is Ruel'

'Honey, we know. He's everywhere in your life. We met him before' my dad shoots down my introduction and the dots connect.

'You guys knew?'

'Honey, we're the ones who organised it' my mum corrects and I blush with embarrassment and Ruel squeezes my hand

'Now where's that 'cute' waiter' Ruel sarcastically says and I roll my eyes.

'Who's jealous now?' I smirk back at him as we take the spare seats that I clearly haven't noticed was empty. 

I sit next to Ruel as he puts his hand on your thigh under the table. I could tell he was nervous to impress your family but by the end of the night, he had completely won them over. He may not have realised it, but I could definitely tell that they approved him and I couldn't be happier.

I sit on my bed as Ruel walks around my room and takes one of my scrunchies off the desk chair, 'I'll take this, thank you very much' he says as he puts it around his wrist

'Hey, that's mine' I burst but he smirks.

'But do you know what else is mine?' He opens your closet to reveal the 10 tee shirts and hoodies all belonging to him

'Fine. We're even' I admit and he goes over to his backpack 

'I have a present for you'

'Aw bub, you didn't have to' I blush and he nods

'I really did' he pulls out a ring box and hands it to you

'Ruel...' I say with uncertainty but he nods.

'Open it' he insists so I open the box to reveal a beautiful but simple ring.

My jaw drops at the perfection I was seeing, 'Ruel it's beautiful...but I can't accept this...'

'You can and you will.' He takes the box from me and puts the ring on my middle finger, it slides on perfectly. 

I admire the ring before pulling his face to mine, pulling him on top of me so he lays on top of me. As his hands slide to my waist and my hands run through his hair, our lips melt together.

I hear the door open and we both are equally startled by my dad standing there 'Oh shit. Sorry guys. Um, goodnight'

'Night' I respond in a mumble.

He closes the door as Ruel  and I try so hard to keep in the laughter. He buries his face in my hair and I laugh at the awkwardness, 'That was worse than Nate walking in' Ruel says and I sigh

'Honestly should've seen that coming.'