Not the crisis I expected to find. I could fix this. It couldn’t be that hard, right? 

“I could come with you,” I offered.

What was I doing?

“No, you don’t have to do that,” she said, but I saw the hopeful gleam in her eyes. How could I turn that down? It’d be cruel.

“I’m happy to,” I said. “Parents love me.”

“You’ve met lots?” she asked, raising a brow.

It was a test, an easy one. I aced every test I took, and this would be no different.

“No,” I answered, watching as she physically relaxed. She tried to hide the cues, but she couldn’t from me. “It’s just what every man seems to say in this scenario, and a lot of studies show, manifesting success helps you achieve it.”

She rolled her eyes. “My parents aren’t some statistic you can so easily win over to your side.”

“I know, but I’m willing to try. To win them over, that is,” I answered.

She folded her arms and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “Fine. We need to get ready now then.”

“What time are we meeting them?” I asked, noticing it was only 2:00 p.m.

“At 6:00, but I need to make sure there is nothing my mother can possibly comment on,” she huffed and hurried out of the kitchen, going upstairs to the room she’d been using.

A couple hours later, Len emerged from her room; I’d been ready for a while. My suitcase didn’t hold many options, but I managed to find a pair of slacks and a short sleeve button down I deemed fit for the occasion.

Len rounded the corner, and I nearly choked on the water I’d been sipping.

She’d pinned half of her hair out of her face, but her long, brown curls still fell over her shoulders, the thin straps of her black dress hidden under them.

The dress she wore hugged her torso, showing every curve of her body. It flowed only a little away from her at her hips. The deep v of the neck showed off a necklace she wore, a little charm on it with a letter. The longer I stared, I realized it was an M.

Not M for Jake. Perhaps for Mallory.

“What’s wrong?” Len asked, looking concerned.

“Nothing,” I said. “You look beautiful.”

Her eyes avoided mine, and she clasped her hands in front of her. “You don’t have to say that. I’m sure my mother will find something wrong with it all.”

I closed the distance between us, standing inches away from her. I needed her to hear me. The only way I could possibly do that was to make sure I had her attention. It was as simple as that.

I tipped her chin to meet my gaze again. My fingers barely brushed against her skin, but I could feel how warm it was.