Alive (Mended Hearts #1) (22 page)

Chapter
20

Jesse

It’s been a week since Maisie and I made up, and we are now stronger than ever. Our trust has spiked to higher grounds. We both realize we have each other’s best interests at heart. All in all, we are both extremely happy right now.

Today is the day that I have been dreading for the last week. The day after we made up, Maisie asked if I would meet her parents this weekend. I begrudgingly agreed. This week has been the longest week of my life. I’ve nearly cancelled a thousand times
, and today isn’t any better. We’re leaving in an hour, and I’m this close to cancelling for real. I feel sick to my stomach with nerves. It’s not that I don’t want to meet her parents, because I really do. I’m just not sure if I’m ready yet. I have no experience with meeting girls’ parents. The only experience I’ve had is from watching movies. That didn’t end well, which gives me a bad omen about today.

I’m doing my usual pacing this morning, waiting for Maisie to
come over. My mom keeps looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. She’s been repeatedly telling me ‘not to worry’ and ‘they will love you’. Yeah, she doesn’t know about all the things that I’ve done. To her, I’m the sweet little boy who does nothing wrong; how wrong she is. I know Maisie’s dad will be able to see right through me. It’s a guy thing. We can spot a dickhead a mile away.

“Jesse, will you sit down, for crying out loud
?” My mom scolds, sitting on the sofa trying to read, looking as cool as a cucumber, when I’m anything but.

I don’t argue with her,
but just sit down, tapping my leg instead.

“And you can cut that out as well,” she says, pointing at my leg.

Crossing my leg over the other, I sit forward, staring at her. “Mom, are you sure they’re going to like me? You know I’ve never done this kind of shit before.”

“Jesse, will you stop panicking? They will love you
, especially when they see how much you care for their daughter. That’s all any parent cares about,” she says affectionately.

Nodding my head, I look out the living room window, at the empty street. It doesn’t help my nerves. Spinning my head back
toward my mom, who has just started reading again, I tell her, “I don’t think I can do this, Mom. I’m going to have to cancel.” I stand up and start to pull my cell phone out of my pocket to call Maisie.

“You will do no such thing, Jesse Cohen! Where is my confident boy? The one who doesn’t give a damn what people think about him? Who will try his best to prove his intentions
, and who certainly doesn’t let people down? I didn’t raise this boy who is about to cancel on his girlfriend when she is excited to show you off. Now, sit your ass back down on that couch and watch some damn TV or something. Maisie will be here to get you soon, so sort it out before I slap you.” Wow… I haven’t seen feisty Mom in so long that it’s shocked me.

Staring wide eyed at my mom
’s serious face as she glares at me, I ask, “Did you just tell me off?”

Nodding her head abruptly, she replies, “Yes
, I did, and if I have to do it again, I’m grounding you.” Then she gives me a wink.

That’s all it takes for me to crack up laughing.

“Well, if I’d have known that was all it took to make you relax, I would have threatened to ground you hours ago. Hell, even last week. You’ve been nothing but a pain in my ass since Maisie asked you to go with her.  I could have strung you up a few times, you know?”

Arghh
shit.
There goes my good mood within a second. It was nice while it lasted. My face goes flat, my knee shaking again. I check the time. It’s only been five minutes since I last checked it. How long is Maisie going to be?

“I’m going upstairs. I can’t sit here
and watch you anymore. You’re getting on my nerves,” my mom says, getting up from her seat.

She
doesn’t understand what I’m going through right now. She’s not the guy. She’s never been the guy. Parents always love the woman, but never the man. We have to work hard for acceptance.

A car engine makes me stand up abruptly.
I race to the window and see Maisie coming down the road.

Quickly getting my overnight bag, I grab my wallet, shouting a goodbye to my mom,
and head out the door. I’m in the car before she even cuts the engine.

“Someone’s eager,” Maisie says, laughing.

She is so beautiful with her hair curly and framing her face today, with minimal make-up on that shows off her flawless features. My nerves instantly vanish being near her. Staring at her plump lips, which are open from her laughing, I sweep her hair behind her ear, and lean my forehead against hers.

I don’t make a move to kiss her. Right now, I just need to smell her.

I inhale deeply, so that her sweet scent goes to the back of my nose, and then breathe out a sigh of relief. I don’t know what I’d do if she ever changed her body lotion. This is home for me; my safe place, my comfort. I’d be lost.

“Are you okay, Jesse?” she asks, looking at me worriedly.

“Shh, I just need a minute,” I reply, taking another sniff.

She doesn’t reply, just lets me carry on what I’m doing. She knows me well enough to know when I need a moment to relax.

When I’m calm, I give her a brief kiss on the lips.

“Let’s go then
, firecracker. To the parents’ house we go!” I say in a chanting voice, pointing behind me.

Maisie rolls her eyes at me, reversing out of the drive.

****

“We’re here,” Maisie says, nudging me awake.

I must have fallen asleep. I’m glad I did. For the three hours plus that I was awake, I was a nervous wreck, hardly engaging in conversation.

“Okay. Just give me a minute to wake up before we go in
, please. I don’t want to look like shit.” She laughs. I would laugh too, but I’m sweating so badly right now. I’m not finding anything funny.

As I take in the
house in front of me, it looks huge. It’s a normal size, but I feel really small compared to it. I’ll feel even smaller when I’m inside.

God, I wish Jake was here. Then I’d have a guy on my side. He’s not here
, though, as apparently he’s had a falling out with his parents. Great timing for that, buddy. I need you!

After s
taring at the house for what feels like hours, I mentally shake myself. Let’s just get this over and done with. What’s the worst that could happen? That they hate me? Or they might love me. I just hope it’s the latter.

Finding Maisie just staring at me, I give her my bravest smile and say, “Come on then
, firecracker. Let’s go meet the parents.”

She gives me a cautious smile in return,
and then moves to get out of the car.

Meeting her at the front of her car, I grab her hand,
as we head toward the front door. The door swings open before we have a chance to knock, scaring the shit out of me.

A man around my height but stockier stands on the threshold, looking at Maisie with adoration in his eyes.
It’s obvious he really loves her, which makes my job of getting him to approve of me harder.
Great.

I watch him give Maisie a hug before he realizes I’m here.

“I take it you’re Jesse?” Wow, his voice is deep; a lot deeper than mine, and that’s saying something. His eyes narrow, inspecting me from head to toe.

“Yes, sir,” I say politely, smiling
and trying to act confident.

Don’t let him see your fear. He will thrive on that
,
I mentally tell myself.

“Nice to meet you
, Jesse. I’ve heard a lot about you,” her dad says vaguely, shaking my hand. Hard. Maisie watches the interaction, not saying a word. Wise woman.

I hope they are good things. I nod in reply.

“Let them in for God’s sake, Tim!” a woman says behind him, whom I’m guessing is Maisie’s mom.

Tim moves aside
, letting us in. A woman who looks the spitting image of Maisie, only older, stands in the hallway with a welcoming smile on her face. I instantly feel at ease looking at this woman. She and Maisie could be twins.

“Hey
, mom,” Maisie says, giving her mom a hug.

Her mom whispers something into her ear, causing Maisie to blush. God only knows what she said. I’ll have to ask Maisie later.

Stepping up next to Maisie, I take hold of her mom’s hand, giving it a kiss. It may be old fashioned, but it’s causing her to blush.
One point to me!

“You must be Theresa,” I say, still holding her hand.

Next to me, Maisie is standing there trying not to laugh. I’m glad she finds this funny. My mom loves her. She didn’t even have to try. I have to try. Maybe not with her mom, but her dad is a different matter.  I shiver just thinking about it.

“And you must be the charming Jesse,” her mom drawls.

“That I am.” I give her a wink, dropping her hand.

Taking hold of
Maisie’s hand again, I give her a real smile.  I like her mom.

“You never told me he was such a charmer, Maisie,” her mom scolds playfully.

“You never asked,” she replies, laughing at her mom’s red face.

Tim coughs behind us, reminding us that he is there. Shit. Maybe he isn’t pleased that his wife seems to be affected by me. Even older ladies aren’t immune to my good looks.

“Let’s go in the living room, shall we? Then we can get to know Jesse better.” Tim walks in ahead of us, stone faced, authority seeping out of his pores.

Without even having to say anything, he’s been letting me know who is in charge since I walked in. I respect that. If I had a daughter, I would
do the same.

“Don’t worry about him. He’s a big softy
once you get to know him,” Theresa whispers behind me. I hope she’s right.

When we are all comfy on the sofas, I look
toward at Maisie. She’s sitting there biting that damn lip of hers. Giving her a look, I tell her with my eyes to cut it out. I won’t be held accountable for my actions if she carries on, and I’m sure her dad won’t be too pleased if I take his daughter on the sofa. I think he might just get his shot gun, if he has one, and kill me.

“So
, Jesse,” Tim pipes up, starting the conversation. “I hear that you’re nineteen and play football. Is that correct?”

“Yes, sir,”

“Please, call me Tim,” he tells me, still not cracking a smile. He’s going to be a tough one to crack.

“Yes, that’s correct
, Tim.” I tell him, referring to his name like he asked. Now that I’ve said it, I hope he doesn’t think I was being a smart ass.

“And you met Maisie in English?”

No we didn’t. We met when I bumped into her on the sidewalk, trying to get a better look at her assets. Though, I won’t be telling her dad that, not if I value my life, and I want to make a good impression.

“Yes, I sat down next to her. I thought she was beautiful,” I tell him, sneaking a look into
Maisie’s eyes, asking if I’m doing okay. She subtly nods her head, letting me know to carry on.

Theresa is swooning in her chair from what I’ve just said about her daughter. She would get
along well with my mom. They both seem likes romantics.

“Yes, she is beautiful. Look, I’m going to cut straight to the point because I’m sure you know about
Maisie’s ex and how he messed her around.”

Maisie groans next to me.

Ignoring her groan, he carries on, “I want to make this clear. If you even so much as hurt a hair on her head, or hurt her emotionally... Hell, if you even make a tear escape from her pretty eyes, I will hunt you down and kill you myself. Do I make myself clear?” he finishes, staring me straight in the eyes.

Staring straight back at him, I tell him honestly, “I won’t intentionally hurt your daughter. I can’t promise that I won’t fuck up from time to time, excuse my language, but I love your daughter. The last thing I want to do is hurt her. It would kill me if I did. I want to be
there for her and protect her, and I’m trying my best. That’s all I can do.” I don’t blink the whole time. He needs to realize that I’m not giving him some bullshit excuse. I care about Maisie more than anything in this world.

Nodding his head once, he replies, “That’s all I’m asking for
, son. Welcome to the family.” He smiles for the first time.

I breathe for what feels like the first time in minutes. So far, so good
; I’ve been accepted. Now, I have to try and not mess it up. It shouldn’t be too hard. I hope.

We spend the next hour getting to know each other, laughing
, and joking around. Maisie seems happier than when we first arrived, which is good. I think she was as worried as I was that they wouldn’t like me. Now that she knows they do, she can relax. So can I.

“There’s someone I want you to meet,” Maisie tells me when her parents leave the room.