original question. “But if they ambush you, then at least you’re prepared. If
they decide not to be nosey, then maybe in a month we could have a dinner
with them at my place.”
“That would be nice. I’d like that. You’ve already met my mom, but I’ll
also arrange something.”
“Have you told them? Or would you if they asked?”
“I love my parents,” June said carefully. “But I
like to keep my private
life private. They don’t ask about who I’m dating because I don’t live at
home. They don’t want to pry. If they know that I’m seeing someone,
they’ll ask about her because they care about both of us and that I’m happy
and that things are going okay. They’re good that way. The best parents.
They give me space but not too much space.”
“I can understand that. I don’t know that I’d want to go downstairs to my
parents’ part of the house and just announce it. That would be pretty
awkward.”
They were silent for a few minutes as they circled the water, watching the
birds, and occasionally watching the people watching the birds.
“I think we should brainstorm some fun date ideas,” June said to break
the quiet between them. It wasn’t painful silence, but date ideas were
always fun.
“Oh. Wow. Date ideas… Can they be cheap date ideas?”
June spun into Arabella and kissed her impulsively on the cheek.
Arabella stopped walking and beamed back at her. “I love that you can ask
me that. That you’re okay with being open. I love that you don’t need this
great big shell around yourself or all that armor you were carrying around
before.”
“I was hoping I didn’t need it with you.”
“Never.” June kissed the edge of Arabella’s jawline and ran her lips down
her throat, over to her ear. “No armor needed. If you geared up, I would just