After I Met You

32

The warmth of his mom's embrace is like no other. I've never had a real family, never had a loving home to go to for the holidays, yet being here with Xavier again in New York makes me start to question that. His mom's perfume brings back so many good memories, and for a second I feel like I am home. This is what having a family feels like.

"Oh, Elena we missed you so much!" Sharon exclaims. "How have you been? How was last semester? Oh, tell me everything."

Letting out a laugh into her fuzzy sweater, I find myself smiling ear to ear.

"Mom, we literally just walked in the door. Can you let her get settled first?"

I bend down to greet their dog Jax, laughing when he licks my face all over. He's the cutest golden retriever I've ever seen, and it's crazy how it seems like even he remembers me. It feels like he missed me too.

"Elena!"

Xavier's dad, Steven, rounds the hallway and wraps me into an embrace as well. It's so scary how similar Xavier looks to him. They both are tall and muscular, with black hair that's gelled up at the front and the same dark, brown eyes that could cut glass if they wanted to.

Compared to his mother, who has bouncy curly ringlets, a pep in her step everywhere she walks and blue eyes that could brighten anyone's day, Xavier looks nothing like her.

"It's so good to see you." Steven says and then pulls Xavier into an even bigger embrace. "How was the flight?"

"Amazing." Xavier nods. "We got first class."

"First class?" Sharon arches her eyebrow. "How on earth did you afford that?"

Before he's able to respond, I cut in. "A seating mishap." I shrug. "We just got lucky."

I'm not ready to tell anyone about the money. Not to say that Xavier's parents are gold diggers, but the minute everyone finds out I'm almost a millionaire they're going to act differently towards me. I don't want that.

"Well, that's just amazing." She squeezes onto my hand. "I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, dear. When Xavier told us that he had to leave to go and see you we didn't even think twice about letting him go. You needed him."

Thoughts of Logan make my heart ache so intensely it's like I'll stop breathing. I don't start to cry though thankfully, I just nod and stare down at my shoes for a second. "Thank you." I tell her. "That means a lot. I did need him."

Before the awkward silence can creep in, Sharon doesn't miss a beat before she glances over towards Xavier. "I'm going to go check on dinner while you guys get settled in. I invited Dion over. I hope that's okay. Did you know he brought his girlfriend up with him?"

"Yeah." He responds. "She's cool. You're going to like her."

His parents scurry off to go finish up dinner while Xavier brings our suitcases down the hallway. We stop at the guest room first, the room I stayed in last year, and he plops my suitcase down onto the bed.

"Uh, sorry about my parents." He scratches the back of his head, almost as if he's embarrassed. "They can be extra at times."

Taking his hand in mine, I bring him towards me and run my free hand over his jawline. It's chiseled to perfection. As always.

"I love them." I grin. "I love you."

Attempting to hide the smile, he kisses my forehead and then kisses my nose.

"Good. I'm going to go unpack. Are you alright?"

I shoo him away with my hands, but before he can walk out the door I call out his name.