The Graduation List

21 - Meet The Parents I

Anna

Friday morning I pack my last few things into my duffle before making my way to the entryway of our house, dropping it on the floor before making some breakfast. As i'm grabbing my cream cheese topped bagel the doorbell rings, I smile and rush over with my food. I open the door to see Eli smiling at me, "hey, you ready?" I nod while pointing down to my small duffle bag, he lifts it off the floor, "you don't need to E" he winks at me, "I know, but I want to darling" I shrug and let him take the bag as I sling my purse over my shoulder, "bye guys, see you on Monday!" I yell into the house alerting my friends that i'm leaving. When I lock the front door I bound over to Eli's Jeep where he's holding my door open for me, I smile and slide into the passenger seat. He closes the door and makes his way to the driver's seat, starting the car, driving away from my house. 

+

Four hours, many songs and snacks later Eli parks in the driveway of a cute two storey house. I lean forward in my seat looking at the house with a smile on my face, "nice house" I say, "it's alright" Eli replies before interlacing our fingers. I look over at the hockey player, "ready for this?" I nod and he kisses my knuckles before letting go to get out of the car, I follow his lead hopping out of the Jeep. Eli comes around the car with our bags on his shoulders, he takes my hand before leading me to the front door of his childhood home. When we walk into the house the first thing I hear is barking before a golden retriever comes into view approaching us. Eli lets go of my hand before kneeling to scratch at the dogs fur, I grin at the scene before I hear footsteps approaching, my gaze moves to the woman that steps into the room. My boyfriend stands coming to my side, wrapping an arm around me, "mom this is Anna, my girlfriend" the woman smiles before bringing me into a hug, I laugh as I return the gesture, "its so nice to meet you, Eli has told us all about you" I pull away from her, "all good things I hope" she nods before letting go of me. 

When Eli finishes greeting his mother he grabs our bags and gestures for me to follow him, I smile and walk behind him up the stairs and down the hall. I grin as I look at the family photos on the walls, my fingers following our path before Eli opens one of the doors. My eyes follow Eli as he drops our bags on the bed before my gaze lands on the trophies and medals on display above his desk. I approach the shelf with a smile, my fingers moving along the trophy bases before moving to the various medals, hands come to my hips "enjoying yourself darling?" I nod as Eli places his chin on my shoulder, moving his hands to my belly, I giggle when he kisses my neck softly. I turn to face him smiling, "I didn't know you were this good at hockey" he shrugs, "that was a long time ago" my hands rest on his chest, "that makes no difference, you still won them" he brings a hand up to my cheek, moving his thumb along my cheek, he lowers his head pressing his lips to mine, I curl my fingers into his shirt, before it can go any further I pull away when I feel something brush against my leg. I laugh when I see that its Eli's dog, "oh Stella, ruining moments since high school" I watch him crouch down, "come here darling" I nod as I lower myself to the ground next to him. Stella barks before approaching me, licking my face, I giggle as I bring a hand to her fur, petting it as she moves to lay across our laps, "she likes you" I smile up at Eli who kisses the top of my head. 

+

We make our way downstairs a few minutes later, Eli proceeds to bring me to the living room. I hear a squeal before my gaze moves to the teenage girl running towards us. "Eli its been forever!" she says before hugging her brother, I smile at them before her gaze meets mine, the girl lets go of Eli before coming over. "I'm Clarissa, this idiot's sister" I grin at her statement, "i'm Anna, but you probably know that already" she nods and brings me into a hug. "Okay let go of my girlfriend, I don't want you to brainwash her" Clarissa lets me go before sticking her tongue out a Eli, I laugh as the hockey player comes to my side, bringing his arm around my waist, "don't encourage her darling" I look up at him sheepishly as I shrug, he rolls his eyes but kisses my head. "Awww you guys are goals!" I blush moving my gaze to my sock clad feet, "oh shut up Clar you're embarrassing her" Eli exclaims while tugging me into his side, "okay but its true...DAD! come here and look at them" my head snaps up at her words. 

An older man walks into the room with a smile, "what? who am I looking at?" Clarissa points at us while grinning, "well look who made it" Eli lets go of me to hug his father, I smile shyly as they let go of each other, "dad this is Anna, the girl i've been telling you about" he smiles at me walking over, "it's very nice to meet you, I can't thank you enough for keeping him under control, I could never get the hang of it" I snort and look over at my boyfriend who is rolling his eyes with his arms crossed. "It's no problem at all Mr. Weston" he opens his mouth to say something else but Eli's mom calls him, "I should go help her, now kids behave, we don't want to give Anna the wrong impression about us" I smile as he walks out of the room. "Sorry about him, he cranks out the jokes ALL the time" I turn to Clarissa, "I don't mind at all, we all need someone like that in our lives" she nods before taking my hand to make me sit on the couch. 

+

Hours later once we have finished eating lunch, Eli takes my hand dragging me through the house until we step outside into the backyard. "Woah it's really nice out here" I say as my eyes move around stopping on the lake in the distance, "is that..." Eli smiles pulling me forward, "lets go find out" I grin as we run across the grass towards the water. Eli stops us on the dock, I smile as my eyes move along the water, "wow it's so pretty" he hums making me look up to see his gaze on me, "you sure are" I blush and he pulls me into a hug, my head on his chest as we stand there for a few seconds. "They really love you" I tilt my head up with a smile, "really?" he nods looking down at me with a smile of his own, "I love them too, i've never felt this at home somewhere other than my actual home in Chicago" he lowers his head kissing me slowly, my hand moves to the back of his neck weaving into his hair as he squeezes my waist. Eli pulls away smiling, "I plan on being your home for awhile" I smile up at him, "I love you E" he takes my hand kissing it gently, "and I love you darling". We spend a few more minutes by the water before deciding to go back into the house to socialize with his family before the night ends.