Chapter 38 MEETING THE FAMILY
Elias
Elias’s parents arrived Friday afternoon with enough luggage for a month-long trip instead of a weekend.
His mother hugged him so tight he couldn’t breathe. His father clapped him on the shoulder and said something about being proud. His sister grinned from behind them, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
“Where’s Alex?” his sister asked immediately.
“Nice to see you too, Katie.”
“I’ve seen you. I want to meet the guy who made you turn down grad school.”
“He’s meeting us at dinner. He’s nervous.”
“Good. He should be. I’m very intimidating.”
She was twenty-six and worked in marketing. She wasn’t intimidating at all. But Elias didn’t tell her that.
They checked into their hotel. His parents wanted to see his apartment. Elias spent twenty minutes cleaning frantically before they arrived, hiding evidence of Alex. The extra toothbrush. The clothes in his dresser. The way the whole place smelled like both of them now.
His mother noticed anyway.
“You’re happy,” she said while his father and Katie looked at his bookshelves.
“I am.”
“He must be special. This Alex.”
“He is.”
“Good. You deserve that.”
Dinner was at six. Elias got there early. Paced the restaurant lobby. Checked his phone seventeen times.
Alex: I’m almost there. I’m freaking out.
Elias: Don’t freak out. They’re going to love you.
Alex: How do you know?
Elias: Because I love you. That’s enough.
Alex showed up at 5:58. He’d dressed up. Button-down shirt Elias had never seen before. Hair is actually styled instead of messy. He looked terrified and beautiful.
“Breathe,” Elias said.
“I’m breathing.”
“You look great.”
“I look like I’m going to throw up.”
“That too. Come on. They’re waiting.”
His family was already seated. Katie spotted them first. Her eyes went wide. Then she smiled.
“You must be Alex,” she said, standing up. “I’m Katie. The better sibling.”
Alex shook her hand. His palm was sweating. “Nice to meet you.”
“This is my mom and dad,” Elias said.
More handshakes. More smiles. Alex’s face was bright red. He sat down next to Elias and gripped his hand under the table.
“So,” his father said. “You’re a literature major?”
“Yes sir. Junior. Well, senior now, I guess. After this summer.”
“What do you want to do after graduation?”
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe teaching. Or publishing. I write sometimes, so maybe something with that.”
“Elias mentioned you write. What kind of writing?”
Alex’s grip on his hand tightened. “Fiction mostly. Short stories. It’s just a hobby.”
“He’s being modest,” Elias said. “He’s really good.”
“Have you published anything?” his mother asked.
“No. I’m not ready for that yet.”
The conversation continued. Questions about classes and campus and how they met. Elias had warned Alex not to mention the letters. Said they met in the library. Technically true.
Katie was watching them with sharp eyes. She didn’t miss the way Alex’s hand stayed in Elias’s. The way Elias relaxed when Alex was close.
After they ordered, Katie excused herself to the bathroom. Caught Elias’s eye on the way.
He followed.
“He’s cute,” Katie said immediately.
“That’s your observation?”
“No. My observation is that you’re completely gone for him. Like, embarrassingly gone.”
“So?”
“So I’m happy for you. You look lighter than you have in years.”
“I feel lighter.”
“Good. Don’t screw this up.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“Also, he’s terrified. Maybe tell your parents to ease up on the interrogation.”
“They’re not interrogating.”
“They absolutely are. It’s sweet. But tone it down.”
Back at the table, his parents had moved on to asking Alex about his family. Alex was answering carefully. Elias knew his home situation was complicated. Divorced parents. Not much contact with his dad.
“My mom’s in Oregon,” Alex said. “We don’t talk much. I’m pretty independent.”
“That must be hard,” Elias’s mother said gently.
“I’m used to it.”
“Well, you’re welcome anytime. If you’re important to Elias, you’re important to us.”
Alex’s eyes got shiny. He blinked hard. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
The rest of dinner went more smoothly. His parents relaxed. Alex relaxed. Katie told embarrassing stories about Elias as a kid. Everyone laughed.
By dessert, Alex was smiling. Really smiling. The terror had faded into something warmer.
“He’s lovely,” Elias’s mother said when Alex excused himself to the bathroom.
“I know.”
“How serious is this?”
“Very. I love him.”
“We can tell.” His father smiled. “He’s good for you.”
“He is.”
Katie leaned over. “When are you telling them about the TA thing?”
“What TA thing?” his mother asked immediately.
Elias shot Katie a look. She shrugged, unapologetic.
“Alex was an undergrad while I was still TAing,” Elias said carefully. “Not my student. Different sections. But people talked.”
“Is that why the department was weird when we asked about you?” his father asked.
“Probably.”
“Do we need to be worried?”
“No. We didn’t break any rules. And I have a job now. It’s fine.”
His mother looked concerned but didn’t push. Alex came back and the subject changed to graduation plans.
After dinner, they walked to the parking lot. His parents headed to their hotel. Katie lingered.
“I like him,” she told Elias. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“I won’t.”
“Good. See you tomorrow.”
Then it was just Elias and Alex. Standing in the parking lot. Street lights are making everything orange.
“That went okay, right?” Alex asked.
“That went great. They loved you.”
“Your sister is scary.”
“She liked you too. I could tell.”
“How?”
“Because she didn’t threaten you. When I brought Carter home, she told him if he hurt me she’d key his car.”
“Did she?”
“No. But she wanted to.”
Alex laughed. The sound was relief and joy and nervousness bleeding out.
“Thank you,” Alex said.
“For what?”
“For letting me meet them. For wanting me to meet them.”
“Of course I wanted you to meet them. You’re my person.”
“Your person?”
“Yeah. The person I tell things to. The person I want around. My person.”
Alex’s eyes went soft. “I like being your person.”
“Good. Because you’re stuck with it.”
They drove back to Elias’s apartment. The night felt lighter. Easier. Like they’d passed some invisible test.
Inside, Alex collapsed on the couch.
“I need to not talk to anyone for twelve hours,” he said.
“Deal. But first, honest opinion. How bad was it?”
“Not bad. Your mom is sweet. Your dad is intense but in a good way. Katie is terrifying but also kind of amazing.”
“She liked you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she texted me.” Elias showed him his phone.
Katie: He’s perfect. Don’t screw this up.
Katie: Also you’re invited to Thanksgiving. Both of you.
Alex read the messages. His face did something complicated.
“Thanksgiving?”
“We don’t have to. If it’s too much.”
“No. I want to. I just. That’s six months away. You’re already planning six months from now.”
“Is that bad?”
“No. It’s good. Really good. Just new.”
Elias sat next to him. Pulled him close. “I’m planning a lot further than six months. If that’s okay.”
“How much further?”
“I don’t know. A year. Two years. Maybe more.”
Alex was quiet. Then: “I want that too. The more part.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But also I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“That I’ll mess it up. That you’ll get tired of me. That this feeling won’t last.”
“It’ll last. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Yes, I can. I’m promising it right now.”
They sat in comfortable silence. Outside, the campus was settling into summer quiet. Most students have gone. Just a few stragglers finishing exams or moving out.
Tomorrow was graduation. Elias would walk across the stage. Get his diploma. Officially close this chapter.
And Monday, he’d start his new job. New chapter. New beginning.
With Alex.
“I love you,” Elias said.
“I love you too.”
“Stay tonight?”
“Always.”
But as they got ready for bed, Elias’s phone buzzed. Unknown number.
He opened the text.
Read it.
His stomach dropped.
“Elias? What’s wrong?”
Elias showed him the message.
Unknown: Congrats on graduation. We should talk. About us. - Carter