“Please!” Gina said, and I knew we had her.
“All right,” she said and joined us.
When Noah arrived home that night, he surprised me with three tickets to Sydney.
“Noah,” I said completely taken off guard. “I could have purchased my own ticket. I invited you, remember?”
“It’s fine,” he said, kissing my cheek. Gina was in the living room watching a cartoon, so we didn’t have to worry about hiding anything. “I have the money, and I wanted us to sit together.”
“Thank you,” I said graciously.
“But you have to promise to take us to the real Australia. Of course, we should see some touristy things, but I want to know where you grew up. What places shaped the woman you are today.”
“It’s not that glamorous, I promise,” I said.
“It doesn’t have to be,” he said. “I want to get to know more about you.”
I took a steadying breath. “Okay.” Little did Noah know that I was going to keep much of my past a secret, at least until we were a bit more serious about each other. I liked him, but knowing the shit I’ve been through could be a
deal breaker this early on in the relationship. Besides, he seemed genuinely excited about the trip, and I wanted him to have the best time. At least his first time down there.
“I want to warn you that my mom can be a bit much,” I said.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” he said.
I had to stifle an eye roll. “I hope it’s okay if I don’t stay the night. There are a lot of things I have to do this weekend to prepare for Monday.”
He sighed dramatically, and I laughed.
“Okay,” he said. “But I’m going to need one hell of a kiss to hold me over.”
I glanced toward the living room where Gina still faced the television, oblivious to her father’s and my growing relationship. I dragged him out of view and kissed him.
On the way home, I called Mom. She’d wanted me to come down for her birthday. It was the only way she could guilt me into the trip. She knew I was coming, but not with two extra people.
“Jess!” Mom said when she picked up the phone.
“Hey, Mom,” I said.
“Is everything all right? Are you still coming next week?” She sounded worried.
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh, thank heavens. I thought you were calling to cancel.” I pictured her pacing the kitchen with worry. It made me feel a little guilty that I made her feel that way.
“I’m not calling to cancel. I do have some change in plans though.”
“How so? Are you coming later in the week? I wanted you here for my actual birthday—”
“I’m bringing two people along with me,” I interrupted before she went on too long.
“That friend of yours?”
“No, not Sierra. Noah and Gina.”
There was a long pause on the other end, and I checked to make sure the call was still connected.
“You’re bringing a man here?”