Page 99 of Yours, For Good

Nora: Should I bother pretending I'll go back to my hotel

room at all?

Javier: If it's up to me, you shouldn't. But you tell me…

I picked up my things and checked out on my way back to Javier's place.

Over dinner that night, he invited me to spend the weekend with his best friend group.

"They would love to meet you," Javier said over another meal he made himself.

He insisted he wasn't much of a cook, but the pasta and greens bathed in shrimp piccata begged to differ.

"I would love you to meet them, too," he added.

I chewed on a lemony, buttery mouthful and tried to hide my nerves at the idea. "I would have to move a few meetings…"

He filled my glass with more white wine. "Can you do that? Would you?"

He moved to his own glass, and I took my glass in my hands. The JGH event had been on a Tuesday, and the weekend was still a few days away.

I took a sip. "Did you have this weekend already planned? You hadn't mentioned it."

"No. I sent an emergency call to the chat group. They're moving previous commitments around to make it."

I sighed and took my fork in my hand again. "I don't know. It feels… big. It's big, isn't it?"

"I've been told it's big, but I don't know." He arched an eyebrow in a suggestive manner. "Why don't you tell me?"

I snorted and ignored the innuendo. "Anyway. Your friends. This would be the first time I'm meeting someone's family like this. Not that I don't know your family-family— but I met them back when we weren't— a thing. Your friends strike me as a bigger deal than your family, somehow. They're special to you and…" I sighed. "I never thought I'd go through this."

He held my hand across the table. "We can do it together. I never thought I'd do this either."

"You've said a couple of times that you never expected to be with anyone again."

"And I told my friends that a million times. They'll be too busy teasing me for it, and trying to make you feel comfortable, for this to go wrong."

A smile pulled from my lips. "They will tease you?"

"Oh, for sure. It'll help take the pressure away from us and put it on me."

"It's probably a bit mean of me to look forward to that."

He laughed. "Come to the lake house with me. It would mean a lot and I promise you… if you're ever uncomfortable, you just need to say a word and we'll leave. But, if you want to see the real me, that's our best bet."

We ended up being the first ones to arrive at the lake house. He showed me around and I didn't bother hiding my awe at the place.

The main common area was a dream. A huge fireplace grounded the space, a stone wonder that served as a backbone to the large logs set as walls. Sofas and armchairs surrounded the hearth, promising the warmth of fire and good company. Expensive as they seemed, the throws and cushions appeared well loved, and I could imagine they had witnessed hours of conversation.

At the other end of the grand room, a twelve-place table, and a modern kitchen with white stone surfaces, white cupboards, and bronze details.

Across the large windows, a deck wrapped around the property and overlooked the lake. That's where Javier convinced me to go for a swim with him.

"It's a hot day," he said.

"I don't know…" I hesitated. "The water and I are not the best of friends."

"I'll be there. It's going to be okay."