Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Grace

" H ello ," I say to Nolan as I open my parents' front door, looking him up and down with hungry eyes. He's all dressed up with dark jeans and a dark green button-up shirt that looks phenomenal on him. I step up to him, run my hand over the soft material, and kiss his lips. " Mmmmmm ."

He smells so good and he brought me flowers too.

" Two bouquets?" I ask him as that euphoric feeling fills me up like it always does when he's in my presence.

"One for you," he says as he hands it to me. "And one for your mother."

I take the big colorful flowers and smell them as my cheeks blush. "Thank you, they're beautiful."

We've been dating for just over a week and it's been indescribable. Nolan and the Hyenas swept the New York Ogres in the first round of playoffs. It helped that he didn't let one goal in throughout the whole four games. Every sports channel in the country is raving about the performance Nolan has been putting on. I love it because whenever I miss him, I just turn on the TV and there's his handsome face in full big screen HD.

Since the Hyenas won in four games instead of seven, we have five days free before they start the next round. So far, we've spent most of it in bed.

But tonight, we're having dinner with my parents. My father has barely talked to me since our little blow-up in the car and apparently, he's only spoken business to Nolan at work, avoiding him whenever he can. I really hope we can get past all of this tonight and work things out. I adore this man, but I also adore my parents. It's making me sick that there's all this tension between us. I just want everybody happy.

"Are you nervous?" he asks as he holds my arms and gazes into my eyes. He already knows me so well. He's so good at reading me.

"Are you?"

"A little."

"Me too."

I take his hand and open the door with a deep breath. "Might as well face it head-on."

"It smells good in here," Nolan says as we walk in.

"My mom and I made lasagna this afternoon," I say with a smile.

Alright, might as well get this over with.

I take Nolan's hand and bring him into the kitchen where Mom and Dad are waiting. Mom's eyes are still a bit red and swollen, but at least she can see. She's still embarrassed about it so she's wearing her large sunglasses.

"You must be Nolan," she says as she walks over with a smile. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Moss," Nolan says as he hands her the bouquet. "These are for you. "

I sneak a peek at my father as Mom makes a big fuss over the flowers, saying how beautiful they are. His back is as stiff as a board and he looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"Coach Moss," Nolan says in an equally stiff tone.

Dad is doing that whole mean-father-trying-to-intimidate-his-daughter's-date routine as he stares Nolan down like the two just met in prison or something.

"Oh, get over it, Finn!" Mom snaps. "Your daughter is grown up, it's time for you to grow up too. I can barely see a thing and I can see that they're perfect for one another. Don't be such a sour puss. Your daughter is in love. It's a good thing."

Dad swallows hard as he turns to me. All of the roughness melts off his face. "You two are in love?"

I'm a bit shy as I look up at Nolan with red cheeks. "We didn't say it yet, but…"

"Yes," Nolan says with all of the confidence in the world. "Absolutely. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I'm in love with your daughter. I'm crazy about her."

I guess it's not the most romantic way to say our first I love you's since my parents are present, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's one of the happiest moments of my life.

"I love you too," I say, giving him a big goofy smile.

He gives me a goofy smile back.

"See?" Mom says, pointing at us. "Look how cute they are. How can you be against that? "

Dad's whole demeanor changes. "I didn't know you two were in love," he says, softening as he looks at Nolan. He takes a long deep breath and nods. "What kind of wine should we have with that delicious-smelling lasagna? I'm thinking a nice Tuscan Sangiovese. Nolan, do you want to come to the wine cellar with me to help pick out the perfect bottle?"

The tight tension I've been feeling all day is suddenly replaced with a light giddy feeling of relief. I know that's my father's way of trying to make everything okay.

"Sure, Coach," Nolan says as they walk to the stairs leading down into the basement. "Although I don't know too much about wine."

Dad slaps him on the back as he opens the door. "Well, you're in the perfect place to learn."

They're chatting in a friendly tone as they head down to the wine cellar.

Mom squeals as she turns to me with her arms open. I run over and hug her.

"Thanks for your help, Mom," I say as I give her a big hug.

"This was all you two," she says. "You two look perfect together."

I have to agree with her there. We are perfect together.

So perfect that during dinner, Nolan leans over and whispers something in my ear.

"I'm going to marry you one day," he promises. "One day soon."

There's no way I'll say no to that.