Page 23 of #Lovestrong

Declan

Ifail to mention to my parents who Lena's family is, so when they suggest hitting up Grandma Mabel's for lunch, I’m all in. We didn't plan on seeing each other this weekend, but honestly, I can't go two days without touching her. Texting isn't enough.

My parents and I walk in— thankfully, my sister is busy today— and a smile takes over my face. Lena is at the table in the kitchen, standing in just the right spot for me to see her through the open doorway. She's wearing a vest style tank-top that buttons down the front, and dark blue jeans. Her hair is in a high ponytail and braided, and she’s got an apron tied around her waist. A small puff of white comes from somewhere out of view and hits Lena in the face, and a cackle of laughter echoes from the unseen.

Lena is smiling with her eyes wide, flour covering one side of her face and the upper part of her shirt. "Grandma, I swear, you're getting chocolate dumped on you before the day is out!"

"Baby!" I holler and her head snaps toward the sound of my voice.

"Declan Harp, who are you hollering at," my mom says in a stern, hushed voice.

"That's Lena, Mom. The girl I told you and dad about," I say, taking a few steps forward as Lena and Mrs. Deb come out of the kitchen laughing, and Lena is using a damp towel to try and get the flour off her face.

"Give me that," I say, holding my hand out for the towel.

"No, you're gonna get your clothes all covered in this crap," she says, stopping a foot or so away from me.

I reach out and grab her waist, pulling her to me, and plant several kisses on the flour-covered side of her face. Her grandma and my dad laugh, and Lena playfully slaps my chest.

"There, now I got a hug, kissed your face, and I'm covered in flour. Give me the towel."

She smirks at me, but hands the towel over and closes her eyes when I tilt her head back and begin wiping her face down. After I lightly kiss the tip of her nose, she opens her eyes, holds her hand out for the towel, and proceeds to wipe the remaining flour off my face.

"I wasn't expecting to see you today. I thought you had stuff to do with your family," she says finally as I reach down to lace my fingers with hers, my pulse finally slowing as a calm washes over me.

"I am," I say, turning and taking a few steps toward my parents. "Lena, this is Senator Aiden Harp, my dad. And, Carrigan Harp, my mom."

Lena's eyes go wide and she tries to pull her hand from mine, but I don't let her. Both my parents smile at her and I pull her in closer to me, trying to calm the panic rising in her eyes.

"Declan has told us so much about you. It's nice to meet you," my mom says, reaching out to shake Lena's free hand.

Lena's grandparents come up behind us, her grandpa clasping a hand on my shoulder. "Carrigan, Aiden. It's great to see you. Come sit down."

He leads us to a round table near the front of the shop. I pull out a chair for Lena and she sits stiffly, staring daggers at me.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't plan this," I whisper in her ear as I scoot my chair closer to hers and sit down.

"You're so full of it, Declan Harp. And I'm so mad at you right now," she says in a forceful whisper.

Mrs. Deb takes our order and disappears with Mr. Gary into the kitchen.

I've never given anyone attention in front of my parents, so I'm not surprised they're both staring at me. Lena is resting her forearms on the table, her fingers laced together, but I can't tell if she's trying not to smile at me or kill me. Either way, her sucking on her bottom lip is the single sexiest thing in the world to me.

"So, Lena," my father says with a smirk on his face. "Do you have plans for college yet?"

She sits up straighter and tries to clear her throat. "I was accepted to a few colleges last year, but I haven't made any decisions yet."

My eyes widen. We haven't talked about college at all. In my quest to find out about her past, I’d never thought to ask her about her future.

"Do your parents have any preferences where they want you to go, dear," my mother asks.

"No, ma'am. My mother isn't in my life, and my dad says he'll support whatever I decide. He got lucky that he doesn't have to pay for anything, so it won't matter to him," Lena says with a small smile.

"Surely, he'll have to help with your tuition and housing." My mom leans forward, her eyes sparkling with a look I know too well. She's about to launch the inquisition.

"My top five choices offered me full academic scholarships, so Dad doesn't have to worry." The pride in Lena's voice is evident. Whatever happened to her doesn't change the fact she's one of the most intelligent girls I've ever met.

Most of the girls I've dated were smart, but none of them passed a 3.0 GPA. Knowing the classes Lena is taking this year, something tells me she's well surpassed that.

"What is your GPA," I ask her, reaching up to take one of her hands. "You're in all AP and Honors classes, and you're taking a college-level foreign language, right?

"Are we really doing this right now?" she says and turns her head to look me right in the eyes.

I bite my lip and lean over to kiss her cheek. "Yeah, we are."