Page 66 of Unlikely

A weekend with you? I’ll make it happen.

My face stretches into another obnoxious smile. I like the idea of making plans with Zara. For once, I like thinking about the future, even more so a future with her in it. Not even caring how eager I sound, I send her another message.

I’m already counting down the days.

23

ZARA

Monday’s are always slow, but counting down the hours till this evening almost killed me. It had been one week since I last saw Clementine and I’ve decided anything longer than this isn’t an option.

I pull up to the curb as my GPS tells me I’ve arrived at my destination. Picking up my cell from the cup holder, I quickly send a text to Clementine.

I’m here.

Her response is instant.

I’ll be out in a minute.

When Clementine asked me to pick her up from her house, part of me reveled at being allowed more insight into who she is and where she comes from. The house is a little older, the facade a little outdated, but it’s neat and tidy, and I maybe googled the area to see if it’s safe.

Thankfully it is.

When the front door opens I’m surprised to see three young men walk out, Clementine right behind them. Knowing enough to know that they’re three out of her four siblings, I open my door and climb out of the car.

I’m a grown woman. I’m not going to sit here, like a girl in my teens, too embarrassed to step out of the car. Clementine is their sister, a woman we all respect, a woman I like a whole lot more than the weight that single word will ever hold.

I know how important these men are to her and I want them to know how important she is to me. Rolling my shoulders back, I make my way into their front yard and stand at the patio entrance.

Clementine pushes through her brothers. “I’m sorry about this,” she says, completely unperturbed by my decision to get out of the car. “They aren’t all usually home at the same time.” She glances behind her. “Well, they’re not all here; Lennox is with his boyfriends, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.”

Her snark has my mouth lifting in a smirk. I like this side of her. I’m certain this is the version of her that holds her ground against her brothers, the version of her that says “I love you, but I will not take your shit.”

“Arlo.” Clementine points at the biggest of the three, with his muscled body and long brown hair. She then points to the man who’s holding Arlo’s hand, who’s the same height but not the same build. His body is slender and more swimmer-like. “This is Frankie,” she explains. “And this is Remy.” Remy is very obviously the youngest, and from the way Clementine nudges him, I can tell they’re close. Eventually, she drags her gaze away from her brother and turns to meet mine. Pools of green soften as she says, “This is my girlfriend, Zara.”

Pride bursts inside my chest. Having her say it out loud to the people she loves the most, gives me hope we’re moving a step in the right direction, that we’re on the same page, and this is most definitely going somewhere.

“Hey,” I say as I hold my hand out to greet each of them individually. “It’s nice to meet you all. Clementine’s told me so much about you.”

“Who is Clementine?” Arlo asks, a smug smile painting his lips.

She flips him off and then steps toward me, sliding her hand into mine before rising to her toes and kissing me on the lips.

“Hey,” she murmurs against my mouth. “We’re going to be late.”

I glance back at her brothers, and the three of them are staring at Clementine like she’s grown two heads, but none of them are bold enough to say anything to her, and I like that. She tugs on my hand, and I dutifully follow her back to my car.

Before she climbs in, she calls out to them. “Bye. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

“Safe to say meeting the girlfriend was a success,” I joke.

She smiles. “They were so insistent on meeting you when they saw your car pull up, but when I agreed, they seemed to have swallowed their tongues.”

“I think it went well,” I add.

“I enjoyed shocking them.” She then leans over the center console and kisses me. “Hi again.”

I smile against her mouth. “Do you think your brothers are the type to be peeking through the windows?”