Chapter 50: Epilogue (Alex's POV) I pulled my seatbelt on while Carter put my bag up in the compartment above our seats. We had about five minutes till take off now so all we had to do was wait. Our dads were sitting a few seats down and we had seats here, a little closer to the back. He sat beside me and I linked my arm with his, resting my head on his shoulder. Fall break came so quick, it's insane how our time flew by. "I can't wait for you to meet my grandparents, they're gonna love you so much," he chuckled. "I'm nervous," I sighed, "What if they don't like me?" "Don't be stupid. They are going to fall in love with you. It's impossible not to," he grinned down at me. I chuckled while turning to face him. "You're just saying that because you're my boyfriend," I scoffed. "No, I'm saying that because I fell in love with you even when I tried resisting." I looked at him in confusion. "I wasn't sure at first if you even liked me. So, I never tried anything, just stuck to being your friend who you flirted with. Then I fell in love with you, that was my end," he sighed for dramatic effect. I smacked his chest while he smiled. "They're going to love you, don't sweat it," he kissed my forehead. I whined, my foot bouncing off the ground repeatedly. "Alex," he huffed, placing his hand on my thigh and suppressing my leg. "Breathe," he chuckled, "And go to sleep." ◆:*:◇:*:◆:*:◇:*:◆ I stirred awake, my eyes opening to our car parked in a driveway. I was a little confused about where we were staying because I don't know where his grandparents stay and they might not live anywhere near mine. I rubbed my eyes before stepping out of the car when I saw Carter grabbing his bags with mine. "Hey," he smiled before closing the trunk. "Your dad is in there with your grandparents," he said while placing my bag on the porch. "Where are you staying?" I asked. "Down there," he said, pointing to the house right in front of my grandparents'. "Our grandparents are neighbors?" I asked, surprised. I come here almost every other summer, how have I never seen him here? "Yup, weird how we were never here at the same time," he laughed while carrying my bags inside for me. My dad was in the kitchen on the phone with someone but he hung up a moment later. "Your grandparents are asleep, you can meet them tomorrow morning. Both of you," he said looking at us. We nodded in sync and Carter carried my bags up to the guest room for me. "Thank you," I sighed while pulling him into a hug. He squeezed me tightly and my body relaxed against his. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. I love you," he pecked my lips. "I love you," I smiled before he said bye and then left. I changed into my pajamas and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep pretty instantly. I woke up the next morning and crawled out of bed. I freshened up, brushed my teeth, and then went downstairs. "Oh, Alexandria! Look at you, all grown up!" Grandma gushed, walking over to me with her arms stretched out. "It's Alex, grandma," I said, grunting while she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug before pinching my cheeks. "Ouch," I mumbled, rubbing my cheeks. "Alex." Grandpa walked over to me with his arms out as well. "Don't pinch her so hard, Glen. Look at what you've done," he scrunched up his nose and my grandma before hugging me. "Thanks, grandpa," I chuckled. "Come on, we made you pancakes," he grinned. "We?" Grandma arched an eyebrow at him. "Your grandmother did," he shrugged while I sat between him and dad. We all ate breakfast together and then I sat with my grandparents for a little over an hour catching them up to date on my life. "So, I hear there's a boy," my grandma squealed. I laughed, "Yes," I fiddled with the cushion edges, "There is." "Goodness, who?" Grandpa questioned. "Carter Reed," I answered. "Reed? As in Calvin's grandson? Amazing!" my grandpa laughed. "I wouldn't know but if that's who lives down the street then yes, his grandson," I chuckled, "I'm supposed to meet his grandparents for dinner tonight and I'm terrified," I said, laughing awkwardly. "Nothing to be terrified about. They're lovely people and they will love you. Everyone always wanted Carter to bring a nice girl home, and he found treasure with you!" my grandma exclaimed, pinching my cheeks again. "Please quit doing that," I whined, rubbing my sore cheeks. "You grew up so fast and so far away, I never go to that." She waved her hand dismissively. "You visit every Christmas," I laughed. "That isn't anywhere near enough, dearie," my grandpa shook his head. "So, when do we get to meet him?" he asked. "Um- when would you like to meet him?" I asked. "Right now," my grandma answered instantly. "Right now?" I chuckled. "Call him over, come on," my grandpa encouraged. I turned to my dad for help but he simply shrugged at me. "You got yourself into that one, kiddo," he laughed. I sighed in defeat before pulling my phone out and calling him. "Hello?" He picked up, his voice husky and deeper like it is in the mornings. Sounds hotter over the phone. "Um- my grandparents want to meet you," I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortable with them staring at me. "When baby?" he asked. That hits different with that voice. "Right about now," I chuckled. I heard a loud thud, so I assumed he fell off the bed and I was right. "Ow," he winced, "Now?" he cleared his throat. "Yeah, you don't have to come right now, any time throughout the day," I said, watching as my grandparents frowned when I said that. "Or maybe now," I mumbled. "Give me fifteen minutes," he sighed in defeat. "Thank you, I'll see you then," I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Bye, I love you." "I love you, bye," I smiled to myself before hanging up. "I love you? Aw, look at them!" Grandma gushed. "Jesus, okay. Um- he'll be here in fifteen minutes," I said. I opened the door when the bell rang. "I'm terrified," he said almost immediately. "You'll be great," I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. I began taking him inside but he pulled me back. "Kiss." I chuckled before pecking his lips, taking him inside with me. "Grandma, grandpa. This is Carter," I smiled. "Aw, you two look adorable together," my grandma smiled. "Thank you," we said in sync. His hand tightened around mine and I squeezed it reassuringly, making him loosen the grip just a tad bit and relax. Everything went great with Carter and my family but now that it was my turn, I was sweating through my fingertips. "Carter, they'll hate me," I mumbled. "They've heard about you all day and they already love you, come on," he pulled me inside. "Guys, this is Alex," he said. I looked forward and saw his grandparents sitting there. Both his grandparents. Paternal and maternal. "Thanks for telling me I'm meeting four people tonight," I said through gritted teeth. "Hi," I grinned at everyone. Everyone stayed silent and stared at me. "I'm gonna leave right now, I swear," I whispered. "She's lovely." "What a beautiful girl." "Perfect for you, Carter." "Aw, honey come here!" Everyone burst out simultaneously. I let out a breath before chuckling. Carter pushed me over to them and I turned to look at him, shooting him a glare. I sat at the table beside him and spoke to everyone throughout that dinner. They were all extremely happy to see the girl he had found and were extremely welcoming. They all involved me in their conversations and asked about me as well in an effort to get to know me. "Goodnight," they all sang while Carter walked me back to mine. "Goodnight," I laughed before turning around and walking with him. We stopped at my driveway and he turned to me. "I told you they would love you," he gave me a pointed look. "Yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes, turning to go inside but he pulled me back and closer, against his chest. "Goodnight kiss?" he smirked. I glanced at his house where everyone peeked through the windows. "They're all watching," I chuckled. "I don't care," he whispered before kissing me. I pulled away while giggling and blushing. "I love you," we whispered in sync. I laughed before kissing him again. I opened the door and saw my dad sitting at the kitchen table. "Oh, call Carter and Mr. Reed. Quickly, quickly, quickly!" he rushed. "Okay, okay!" I said before jogging back over. "Mr. Reed, Carter. Um- my dad's calling you. Both of you." Carter seemed just as confused as me, Mr. Reed? Not so much. We walked in and Carter and I stood in front of them. "Right now, Tim?" Mr. Reed asked. "I can't hold it in anymore, I tell her everything," my dad pouted. "What's going on?" Carter asked, stealing the words from my mouth. "While we're here, in California. There's something we have for the two of you. Not like you get it right now but… you've gotta wait till you're eighteen," Mr. Reed sighed. "What is it?" I asked. My dad sighed before reaching out into his laptop bag and bringing out two sets of keys, tossing one to each of us. "What is this?" we asked in sync. "The keys to your new home," they answered together. "What?!" we yelled. "Shh!" my dad hissed. "Alex, I know you want to come back to California here after high school," my dad stated. "Carter, you've always wanted the same thing," Mr. Reed said. "We want you both to have a place here when that happens. A place you both can call your own," Mr. Reed explained. "And who knows? Maybe you both will live here when you get married," my dad shrugged. Mr. Reed smacked my dad on the shoulder. "Ow," he huffed, "What?" "They're kids, just shut up, Tim. Anyway, you both are free to go check it out tomorrow and then the keys come back to us, got it?" "But-" my dad opened his mouth to reason. "Tim," Mr. Reed shot him a glare. I snickered and bit back a laugh. "The keys come back to us, you heard the boring old man," my dad snorted, rolling his eyes. Carter and I laughed. "Go to college, get married, whatever. The place is all yours." Ours. It's all ours. Together. . . . .