After putting my things back on, I slipped out of the locker room while Blake showered and dressed. I had told him about my promise to meet our parents at the restaurant for a celebratory dinner, so he hurried out of the locker room. I drove to the restaurant, and after parking, I jumped out of the car, pulling Blake to the side.
“Are you sure we should tell them?” I asked, unsure. What we had was so fragile and precious, and I didn’t think I could handle losing Blake again.
“I really want to be with you. I think telling them is the right thing,” he told me again reassuringly, kissing my forehead lightly and pulling me into the restaurant. “No matter what happens, we do this together.”
“Together,” I whispered, squeezing his hand, feeling foolish for doubting him in the first place.
We let go of each other’s hands before entering the restaurant, but I found comfort in knowing that I wouldn’t have to go as long without his touch this time. With a brave sigh, I sat at the table.
“Great job tonight, honey,” said Debbie, beaming at her son.
“Great game,” my father added with a smile.
“Thanks.” Blake smiled at them.
We waited a while into dinner before telling them, taking time to consider what we would say. I finally let out a shaky breath and took a big gulp of cold water. “Blake and I have some news,” I announced. My body was shaking with nervousness. Blake reached under the table, placing his hand gently and soothingly on my thigh.
“What’s the news, pumpkin?” my dad asked expectantly.
“I know this is probably a little strange for you to hear, and I know this isn’t what you intended when you got married, but…” I trailed off, unsure of the correct phrasing.
“Alyssa and I are in love,” Blake finished for me, and I held my breath as I watched their reaction.
After a moment of silence and an exchange of looks between them, Debbie asked, “What do you mean, you’re in love?”
“Just like it sounds, Mom. I love her, and she loves me,” Blake answered, looking from one to the other. He took my hand and held it on the table.
“Alyssa?” my dad asked, his confused expression almost comical.
“Dad, I love him. I’m sorry it happened this way, but it did.”
The two of them looked at each other again. My father rose, took his wife’s hand and said, “Would you two excuse us for a minute?” They walked out of the restaurant.
“Oh, my God, are they leaving?” I hissed, shocked.
Blake chuckled. “No. They’re right by the door, discussing. I think it’s going to be okay.”
I wasn’t so sure until they returned, smiling. Debbie reached across and put her hand on top of our clasped ones. “All we want is your happiness. If this is what you both want, we’ll accept it. You’ll just have to give us some adjustment time, of course.”
“You’re not mad at us?” I asked.
“I’m not,” she said, smiling at me and turning to my dad. I was almost sure Dad would curse and swear, but to my surprise, he was calm.
“Dad?” I asked, looking hopefully at him.
His face was stern. He wasn’t mad, but he wasn’t happy, either. “We love you both, and you’re adults. I trust you know exactly what you want. I don’t like it, but I’m not going to stop you, either.”
“Mom?” Blake turned to Debbie. “This is okay with you?”
“Son, it’s not exactly what we expected to hear from you guys today, but you love each other, and that’s important. We won’t stand in the way of love.”
Blake and I looked at each other for a few seconds. I didn’t know what to do or say, but the look of confidence in Blake’s eyes told me all I needed to know—everything would be fine. I beamed at Blake and shyly drew closer to him, but not without looking at our parents. They were pretending to be engrossed in each other. I kissed Blake quickly, finding relief in knowing that I could finally love him. The kiss was short and sweet, but it was filled with the promise of sweet beginnings and a road not yet traveled.
(BONUS BOOK #1)
CHANCE
(A Stepbrother
Romance)
By
Mia Carson
COPYRIGHT ? 2016
All Rights Reserved
CHAPTER 1
Claire got out of the cab and looked in horror as Trent, her fiancé, held a woman in his arms and kissed her lovingly on the lips in front of his house. She wanted to run or close her eyes and pretend the man she had been dating since after high school, for three years, was not kissing another woman the day before their wedding. But even the darkness that would come if she closed her eyes was insufficient to rid her confused mind of the event unfolding in front of her.
He stroked the woman’s face and spoke soothingly to her; he was so engrossed in their conversation that he didn’t see Claire until she had seen too much. By the time he did see her, her cheeks were drenched with tears. She remained motionless as he ran towards her.
“Claire, this isn’t...”
She looked up at him, feeling like a zombie. She felt nothing, heard nothing, saw nothing except the woman who stood uncomfortably a few feet away from them.