We end up in the bath as we were both sticky and sweaty from our lovemaking facing each other on opposite ends of the tub, my feet resting in his lap as his thumbs massaged the soles of my feet.

“I want to tell your parents tomorrow.” I stretch my foot, flexing it and he massages it harder, trying to get me to calm down. He lifts my foot from the water and kisses the bottom of it and I smile. “Don’t be nervous. If you don’t want to be there, I understand. Whatever you need.”

“No, I want to be there. I think I should be there. It will also help fill in some of the blanks about why I broke up with Parker.”

“So tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” I nod.

We arrive at my parents’ house around noon the next day. It’s raining, which is rare for LA and I can’t help but take it as a bad omen of sorts. Like the universe knew there was a storm brewing in my life and sent a physical one to match it. I’d called my mother in the morning and told her we were coming over and also that I invited Mason and Chloe over so that I could talk to everyone together. As the only two people that were privy to me and Jacob, I hoped they could help soften the blow.

Or maybe I was just praying that they could keep things from getting too ugly.

We’re sitting in the car outside of the house, my eyes glued to the front door that we will have to walk through and effectively change my family forever.

I’d been a nervous wreck all morning, antsy and jittery and jumping every time my phone buzzed with any type of notification. JP had tried everything to calm me down and I still couldn’t shake the anxious feeling.

His hand finds mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Everything is going to be fine, baby.”

“Is it?” I begin chewing on my thumbnail, a habit I gave up years ago that suddenly seems to bring me a bit of comfort.

“Okay, or it’s going to be as bad as we think.”

Absolutely not what I want to hear right now. “JP!”

His voice is soft but even and it calms my racing heart a little. “Either way, we have to tell them.”

“I know.” He gets out of the car, putting up the umbrella even though we are only twenty or so feet from my house and opens the door for me, holding the umbrella over my head. The small act of chivalry makes me smile and I remember exactly why I’m doing this today. I can’t go another second hiding how much I love Jacob Price.

“Thank you.”