James squeezed my hand and I looked up at him. We had an ongoing bet for when the two of them would get engaged. He had guessed Mason would pop the question sometime this summer. It was looking like he was going to win. He usually did win our bets. But I was always willing to give him the rewards he requested. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at him.
"How about that tour?" James asked.
"Sounds good. What did this place set you back? I honestly didn't know apartments could be this big this close to Central Park," Mason said.
"It was actually two apartments that we had to combine. So we got everything custom done, which was great."
It was cute that he said we, even though he had kept it a secret from me until it was already done. I hadn't even known it had been two apartments before. But that made sense. I had just been thinking that I hadn't seen an apartment with a second story before.
Recently James and Mason had gotten really into talking about real estate. I was pretty sure the two of them were trying to buy up all the prime real estate in the city. Their conversation quickly turned into discussing copper versus aluminum wire and different light fixtures.
"Do you want a normal person tour?" I asked Bee.
"Absolutely." She stood up and followed me into the kitchen. "They lost me at light fixtures."
Chapter 7
Friday
I opened up one of the last boxes. On top was a small frame. I smiled and turned it over. It was a picture of James and Rob. James was smiling brightly and Rob was giving the middle finger to the camera. I couldn't believe this had been taken two and a half years ago. James didn't look any different than he did in the picture. I wasn't sure if I looked any older either, but I felt older.
Rob joked around with me all the time, but I knew he didn't mean it. He had become one of my best friends. He was like the brother I never had. He teased me enough to make it true. And James' sister was like the sister I never had. I truly did fit into James' life. With everyone but his parents, that was.
"Do you need help finishing up?" Ellen asked and sat down next to me on the couch.
"No, that's okay." I set the picture down on the couch, leaned back, and smiled. It was crazy how James and I could pick up our whole lives and move within a few days. Ellen had been wonderful helping us pack and unpack everything. I relied on her as much as James did now.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Ellen asked.
I ran the back of my hand against my forehead. I knew I was a mess. All day I had been delaying getting ready to go to James' parents. Just thinking about it made me unbelievably nervous.
"Dear, I know you're worried. Just be yourself." Ellen put her hand on my forearm.
"If they wanted to know me, they would have done it months ago. No, years ago. They don't want me to be me. They want me to be someone else." Isabella.
Ellen squeezed my arm and then stood up. "I laid out a dress on your bed. How about you go get ready and I'll finish unpacking. James will be back soon and he won't want to be late."
I knew that better than anyone. It was strange how quickly the apartment had been transformed into our home. I already felt comfortable here. James had been right. And I'd never tire of seeing the new view. Our first apartment had been between his office and NYCU. We didn't need to be near my school now. And it was really nice to be so close to Central Park. I sighed and stood up. "You're right. Thanks for all your help this week. I don't know what we'd do without you." It was strange going to meet James' mother when Ellen really seemed to fill that role.
"Go on and get ready." She waived her hand in the air, shooing me away.
***
I drummed my fingers against the kitchen counter. When I had come back out after my shower, Ellen was gone. She had picked out a sundress that was a little more sophisticated than the other ones I owned. It was white with a modest neckline and a lacy skirt that stopped a few inches above my knees. I had put on the diamond necklace James had gotten me last Valentine's Day, which made the outfit look even fancier. And I chose white heels instead of sandals. Hopefully it would be fancy enough. I looked around the kitchen at the shiny stainless steel appliances. It was odd being here alone.
I looked down at my phone. Normally when I was nervous about something, I'd call Melissa. But she had avoided me all week. She hadn't even stopped by to see the new apartment even though I kept asking. When she'd decided to move to New York after graduating, I had pictured spending a lot of time with her. I thought I'd be getting my best friend back. I hadn't even gotten to spend any time alone with her to talk about her dating Tyler. Hopefully I'd be able to pull her aside tonight.
James had said there wouldn't be more than 30 people or so at the party. It was just supposed to be close friends and family, and I'd know most of them. I was pretty sure his parents were the last people in his life I hadn't met. The thought just made me more nervous. And I couldn't stop thinking about all the things Mason had said last night.
I quickly answered my phone as soon as it buzzed. "Hey, James."
"We just pulled into the parking garage. Do you want to come down?" He sounded tense.
"Yeah, I'll be right down." I was in the elevator before I even hung up the phone.
The car was waiting near the elevator door. James was standing by the open door, staring down at his phone. He was dressed in a navy blue suit with a white dress shirt underneath. The top few buttons were undone and he wasn't wearing a tie. He looked casual and I instantly felt more relaxed. I'd need to thank Ellen for picking me out a perfect outfit for the occasion.
He smiled when he saw me and put his phone back in his pocket.
"So they haven't canceled yet?" I asked.
"Not yet." He kissed my cheek and gestured for me to get in.
I climbed in, scooting to the middle seat so he could slide in next to me. As soon as our seatbelts were buckled, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"I like this," he said, running his opposite hand along the lace of my dress.
I smiled to myself. If he liked the lace on this dress, he was going to love the wedding dress I had picked out. "It's okay for tonight?"
"Absolutely." He grabbed my hand and ran his thumb along my palm. "Are you nervous?"
I looked up at him. Even if I tried to sugarcoat it, he'd be able to read how I was feeling. "Yes."
"Don't be." He gave me a small smile. "It's going to be fine, I promise."
"What if they don't like me?" I laughed awkwardly. "That's a stupid question. They already don't like me."
"It won't change anything."
"Yes it will. I don't want to be the reason that you're not close to your parents, James."
He lowered his eyebrows. "They're the reason I'm not close to them. Just be yourself. I fell in love with you. If they don't like you, it's their loss, not the other way around."
I took a deep breath. I couldn't go into this with preconceived notions about them if I expected them not to have them either. I just needed to pretend them avoiding me for the past couple years hadn't happened. This was a fresh start, just like the new apartment. They were going to be my family.