Outside, my mom got teary-eyed hugging me goodbye. These people were an enigma. My dad hugged me while laying on his famous guilt trip about how I never call or visit.
“I call once a week. Your phone shoots me to voicemail.”
My parents looked at each other, sharing a silent conversation where they shared how unlucky they were being stuck with a lying daughter.
When they pulled out of the parking lot, I handed Easton the keys to his car and climbed in.
How could two people exhaust me so much?
Easton was quiet as he drove back to my house. His hand was interlaced with mine, and I wondered if meeting my parents would have him running. If he was smart, he would get away from me and go far away.
Maybe my parents showing up wasn’t such a bad thing. If Easton ended our agreement, I could blame my parents and feel better about myself.
Another lie, Rachel.
Chapter 24
Easton opened my door and threw me over his shoulder. I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but I was beyond exhausted. I texted Jules while we were driving, letting her know I just had a run-in with my parents, and I was going to work from home for the rest of the day.
Easton must have seen my text, because he called Cole on the ride home, telling Cole he would also not be going into the office.
Still quiet, Easton put me on the couch and told me to stay. I heard the bath run and I had to wipe the tears streaming down my face when I realized he was drawing me a bath.
Easton came in minutes later and threw me over his shoulder again.
“I’m beginning to think you went into the wrong profession, your fireman’s carry is a work of perfection.”
Easton swatted my butt. “You’re the only one I’d carry out of a fire. Most people annoy me.”
“But not me?” I fished.
“Not you,” he answered.
Easton undressed me, but before I could get him naked, he plopped me in the hot water. Moaning, I sunk down under the bubbles.
“I’ll be back. I have to make a phone call.” Easton left, coming back a minute later with an energy drink. “Drink,” he ordered, already putting his phone to his ear.
He spoke low and I couldn’t catch what he was saying. The hot water began doing its job and my muscles started to relax. Irefused to think about the conversation I had with my parents or everything that came out of Easton’s mouth.
When my brain wouldn’t release the morning’s debacle, I began to sing softly, needing something to get my mind off of the disaster.
I dried off my hand and grabbed my phone. Jules had texted. A lot.
She knew my parents and how harsh they could be. Most of the time I would go with Jules during college break to be with her parents, who accepted Jules just as she was, as long as she was happy. I halved my time with her parents and mine, mostly because of the guilt trip my dad would give me if he thought I liked Jules’ parents more.
I texted Jules back, giving her a rundown of breakfast and telling her how amazing Easton was at handling my parents. We agreed we would have dinner the next day so we could discuss everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
Shit, was it really only last night that Cole made Jules admit her feelings to him?
Easton walked in and I put my phone down. His hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the bathroom counter. He appeared nonchalant, but I could tell by the strain in his eyes and lips he was anything but.
Holy shit, he’s a genius. He got me naked in the bathtub so he could break up with me and leave without me being able to chase him.
“Feelings check?”
What the fuck?
I just stared at him with my mouth open. This was exactly how I was going to end this between us, but I wasn’t ready.