Page 28 of Only You

Just then, the doorbell rang, and they exchanged a look of panic.

“How about a kiss for good luck?” she joked. “Never mind. Just get the door.”

Kayla hung back while Jack went and answered the door. “Hey. You made it,” he greeted his parents.

Eileen immediately embraced him. “Hello, my handsome boy.” She said it no matter how old he was, and he didn’t have the heart to remind her he was all grown up now.

“Hello, son. Good to see you,” John said, shaking Jack’s hand.

“Where is she?” Eileen asked anxiously.

“She’s—” Jack began.

“Right here,” Kayla finished, joining them in the foyer. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.”

Eileen moved forward and clasped Kayla’s hands. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“It’s Kayla, right?” John asked.

Jack had been so busy watching them that he’d failed to make the proper introductions. “Mom and Dad, this is my girlfriend, Kayla Green.” He’d practiced saying it so it flowed smoothly.

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” John said, shaking Kayla’s hand.

“It’s great to meet you both,” Kayla said, sounding sincere.

“You must be hungry after your flight. Come into the kitchen,” Jack said. Earlier, he and Kayla had assembled a tray of cheese, crackers, veggies, and dip. Due to their late arrival time, he knew his parents wouldn’t want a full meal.

“What would you like to drink?” Kayla asked, playing the perfect hostess.

“Water is just fine,” Eileen replied. “Flying makes me so thirsty.”

“How was your flight?” Jack asked as he and his parents sat down. Kayla brought four bottles of water to the table and then slipped into the chair beside him.

“The flight was great,” John said. He took a small plate and filled it with appetizers.

“He always says that, even though he sleeps through the whole thing,” Eileen complained.

Jack chuckled. “Like father, like son.”

Kayla gazed at him. “Really? You can sleep on a plane?”

Jack shifted uncomfortably. Shouldn’t his girlfriend know this about him? “We haven’t traveled together yet,” he explained to his parents.

Eileen eyed them with interest. “Not even for work?”

Kayla smoothly interceded. “We’ve been on the same flight before, but we didn’t sit together.”

“It was before we started dating,” Jack added.

“Ah,” Eileen said, as if it made perfect sense.

“Anyway, I’m like you, Mrs. Peterson. I can’t sleep on a plane,” Kayla said.

“Call me, Eileen,” she said.

Jack sipped his water, thinking it was a nice save.

“So, how long have you been dating? Jack was a little vague about it,” Eileen said.