After hours later, when we finally landed in Los Angeles, I found my parents right where they told me they would be. Holding a placard that said ‘welcome home,’ Mom met me with her more than usual enthusiastic hug, where Dad had a satisfied look in his eyes now that I finally came home. Though it was just for two weeks until I would go back.

From the day I decided to move to New York for my high school, he took the world of worry for me on his shoulders. They both did. It wasn’t easy for me to stay so far from them, but it’d have been more difficult for me to stay here in Los Angeles.

I needed time to heal myself. The distance was necessary. As soon as the memories of that night started to flood in, I shut off my mind, burying them in the pit of my brain. Just like I did for the last seven years.

I’ve moved on.

“Welcome home, little mouse!” The moment I stepped into the threshold, I was tackled into a bone-crushing hug. “Look at ya. You’ve grown up!”

I rolled my eyes at my brother. “You just met me two months ago.”

“Yeah, but it feels like ages since I irritated you,” he said, eyes warm with nostalgia.

I smiled. I’ve missed him. Even though he visited me often in New York whenever he was on his business trips.

“You better keep your stupid ass away from me, I’m warning you!” I feigned a serious look.

He chuckled, and then his gaze fell on Warner who looked blue in the face from his marathon to washrooms every ten minutes. He seemed on the verge of fainting at any moment. He was extremely embarrassed when he had to run for the washroom before he could even shake Dad’s hand.

Way to impress my parents.

I wanted their first meeting to be good. Dad couldn’t dislike him anymore for that.

“He is too good to be true,” Dad had said once on the phone. I didn’t know why, but he didn’t approve of him the moment he heard we were dating.

“Hey, Warner! It’s good to see you, man.” Tobias gave him a side hug. “You all right, though? You look sick.”

“Nothing serious, just a stomach bug. And it’s nice to see you too.” Suddenly, his expression twisted like someone punched him in the gut. “Uh, if you don’t mind…”

“Go right and then straight up, the first door. You will find the guest room,” Dad said with a displeased tone.

Heaving a ‘thank you,’ he ran inside.

I sighed.

I will have to talk to Dad about this. Though Warner didn’t notice his tone now, he’d soon.