Eden’s POV:
“Mom, dad,” I breathed out, forgetting about the suitcases as I walked towards my parents, engulfing them in giant hugs. I felt small in their embrace—even though my dad had his arms around both mom and I, we were still squished under his hold. “I missed you both so much…”
“Hi, there, squirt,” dad’s voice—it was dad’s voice. Not from the speaker. In person. “We missed you, too, sweetheart.”
We pulled apart and he gave me a kiss on the forehead before he turned to Sterling to greet him. I, in return, turned towards Sterling’s parents and bowed my head in greeting.
“Mr. and Mrs Ainsley,” I bowed my head respectfully. “Thank you for coming to see us.”
Sterling’s POV:
I watched as Eden’s parents greeted her warmly before she turned to mine. She greeted them almost stiffly, professionally. I wondered how that would play out…
“Oh, darling, please. It’s Caroline or Carol, since your dating Sterling,” my mother greeted her with a smile, reaching her arms out for a hug. “How have you two been?”
Eden’s POV:
I accepted the hug, wrapping my arms around her as well. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome but… I wasn’t complaining.
“We’ve been good,” I answered softly, looking behind me towards Sterling. “He’s been taking really good care of me.”
Sterling’s POV:
I gave Eden a soft smile when she looked at me, winking at her playfully as the pair pulled out of the hug.
“Well, good. He’d better be. I didn’t raise my son to treat women badly,” my mom chuckled, earning an eye-roll from my dad
“You, my dear, should cut our son some slack,” he joked, wrapping an arm around her waist as he gave Eden and me a warm smile. “We’re glad you two have been well.”
Eden’s POV:
I smiled and bowed my head a little again.
“I hope you both have been doing fine as well,” I said before I heard my dad’s voice greeting Sterling.
“Sterling,” my dad nodded, reaching his hand out for a handshake. “Good to see you and my daughter doing well.”
I turned my attention towards them, but wasn’t able to observe much longer because I was pulled into another hug.
“Eden!” Uncle Leo exclaimed, hugging me. “It’s been such a long time. You look wonderful!”
I hugged him back, patting his back lightly.
“Uncle Leo. It’s nice to see you,” I said after we pulled apart, the smile still on my features.
(Yup! I just don’t know how to fit in all these people. :o)
(Lol. We have a lot of characters right now…)
Ashley’s POV:
I came back from the bathroom to find my family — both blood-related and not — surrounding a group of people. A small flash of a familiar smile had me grinning and pushing through the crowd.
“Eden! You’re here! Oh my gosh, it’s been so long!” I laughed, pulling her out of my dad’s embrace and into my own.
(Violeta And Gray are just watching from the corner. Lol.)
(We do!)
Eden’s POV:
I almost let out an exclaim of surprise, but held it in as I was crushed into Ashley’s embrace.
I hugged her back just as tightly, although carefully, taking a deep breath, inhaling her scent.
“Lee…” I murmured, closing my eyes. “I missed you…”
“Eden…” I opened my eyes at the familiar voice, taking in my big brother’s figure. He looked at me with wide eyes as if he couldn’t believe I was in front of him. It was a bit dramatic, but I couldn’t blame him.
“Luke…” I pulled out of Ashley’s warm hug to wrap myself around Luke, standing on my toes to do it properly. “You look well…”
Lucas laughed and pulled away slightly to give me a kiss on the forehead.
“You definitely don’t look like the Eden from the past,” he teased me, causing me to scrunch my nose at him. He hugged me again, but this time pulled Ashley into the hug as well.
(Violeta And Gray are just watching from the corner. Lol.)
(Gray is very awkward right now.)
Ashley's POV:
I grinned and let myself get squished in the hug. They were hugging tight but still careful, probably because of the baby. I hoped no one would slip up and say something before we were ready to tell our parents.
"How are you guys?" I asked Sterling and Eden as we pulled away, smiling at them as I leaned into Lucas's side.
Eden’s POV:
“We’re good,” I answered softly, reaching out to slowly link our fingers together. Lucas looked at Sterling and laughed.
“You aren’t mad we didn’t invite you in the hug, are you?” He asked jokingly. I shook my head before I looked back towards Gray and Violeta. I motioned for them to come closer, but their shock was completely visible on their faces.
Finally, they responded, coming closer.
“Everyone, this is Violeta and that’s Gray,” I introduced. “Friends from Cali.”
Gray’s POV:
I stared at Mr. Ainsley with wide eyes, my inner fanboy trying to fight for freedom. Shit. It was him. It was actually him and I was friends with his son! How could I not have made the connection before? I even almost flirted with their soon-to-be daughter-in-law!
“It—it’s nice to meet you!” I actually stammered, bowing my head in respect, more so towards Mr. Ainsley than the others. I could not believe my luck.
Sterling's POV:
I rolled my eyes at Lucas's question. No, I was not mad that I'd been left out of the hug. I preferred to hug my girlfriend without others getting in the way.
My dad chuckled a little and stuck his hand out for Gray to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. I hope Sterling hasn't been too much of a pain in the tail?"
"Dad! Seriously?" I exclaimed with a sigh as I tugged Eden slightly closer. "I have most certainly not been a pain, thank you."
(Ah, the parents…)
Gray’s POV:
I stared at Mr. Ainsley’s hand with wide eyes before reaching out hesitantly, shaking it. When we took our hands back, I stared at mine for a good minute.
I’m never washing this hand. Ever.
Eden’s POV:
I laughed at Sterling, amused at both the conversation between him and his father, as well as Gray’s reaction. Seeing Sterling like that with his father was incredibly nice.
“He’s lying, Mr. Ainsley,” I chimed in with a teasing smile. “He’s been a huge pain.”
(Oh my gosh, Gray. Lol. He's not that cool…)
Sterling's POV:
I sighed at… Well, at everything… Gray was acting weirdly around my dad, Eden was making fun of me (but what else was new?), and my parents were chuckling at them both.
"Okay, maybe I should just head back to California, then. You guys are so rude," I joked, poking Eden in the side.
(🤣)
Eden’s POV:
I stiffened when his finger poked my side, trying to conceal the laughter that wanted to escape from my lips.
Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered in his ear with a smile. “You can’t go anywhere now.”
My dad groaned.
“Could you not?” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I can watch my daughter flirt anymore.”
I glared at him, pulled away from Sterling, clicking my tongue. Even though he’d said that, his face displayed hints of playfulness. He and mom did seem tired, mom more so than usual. I raised an eyebrow. Was something wrong with the company? Did dad’s art gallery go down?
(Hunter. Lol. 😂)
Sterling’s POV:
I almost groaned when Eden pulled away after her dad said that. I wanted to kiss her, now… More so than usual. Of source she had to have that effect on me when we were in public…
“Hunter, let the kids be young. They’ll flirt whether we want them to or not,” McKenzie chuckled softly, reaching up to kiss her husband’s cheek.
Eden’s POV:
“You don’t seem to complain when you’re flirting with mom,” I remarked, crossing my arms. Dad smirked in response. I shook my head. Why was my dad like this again?
“You’ll understand when you get a daughter,” he said simply, his words seemingly towards both Sterling and I although he didn’t directly say it.
I was caught halfway between gaping in shock and laughing at how amazed Gray seemed. Instead, I swallowed and shyly brushed my hair behind my ear, tentatively holding my free hand out to shake. “I’m Violeta, it’s, um, really nice to meet you.”
Lucas’s POV:
I smiled at Violeta.
“Hey,” I greeted. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Thank you for being there for my sister. I hope she wasn’t too mean.”
“Oh, not at all,” I assured quickly, wringing my hands anxiously. “She’s a pleasure to be friends with.”
Lucas’s POV:
“I’m Lucas, her older brother,” I introduced myself. “This is my girlfriend, Ashley. And you already know our families, so I suppose we don’t need to introduce them.”
“Y-Yeah,” I stammered, letting my eyes trail over each family member in front of me. “It’s really nice to meet you all.”
Ashley's POV:
I snorted as he emphasized "girlfriend." Was that really necessary? "Right. I'm his girlfriend. It's nice to meet you, Violeta and Gray. I hope you'll enjoy being here."
(A, I want to see Sterling’s reaction at what Hunter said indirectly. XD)
Lucas’s POV:
We hadn’t told anyone we were engaged yet, and I couldn’t let it slip. I almost did, though, but ended up emphasizing that she was my girlfriend.
“This is your first time here, right?” I asked, resting my head on Ashley’s shoulder. “I hope you like it here. It’s a nice place.”
“It’s our first time, yeah,” I confirmed, reaching instinctively for Gray’s hand. “We’re really excited.”
Gray’s POV:
Although still dazzled by the presence of such high-level people, I linked Violeta and my fingers together, squeezing her hand tightly.
I couldn’t believe my luck. Not only was Mr. Ainsley there, but Hunter and McKenzie McArthur, one a well-known Vice President of a very famous company and an artist, while the other a renowned vet, were there. And then the Carters. Their hotels… damn it, never did I think I’d meet these people. Ever.
(Gray is such a fanboy oml.)
