Amber's pov:

Not gonna lie, there was definitely an awkwardness in the room when Damien's parents came in.

I thought it would fade over time as we all got more comfortable with one another, but as soon as Damien's mother pulled me into a conversation asking more about me, I couldn't help but feel a little bit...

Overwhelmed.

"You like that little boutique up by Walmart too?! We should go shop there together some time, that would be so much fun!!" Mrs. Black says, excitedly clapping her hands together while I sat there with a forced smile on my face.

Don't get me wrong, it's not her.

If anything, she's been so nice and welcoming to me ever since I met her. She seemed genuinely excited to meet me and just that was enough to relax me a little bit when talking to her.

I guess why I am feeling so uncomfortable is that...

I'm not used to all of this.

At first, it was the getting to know me, what I liked and disliked, and I was surprisingly able to open up a lot more than I thought I would.

It's always hard to open up to a person who you barely know, but for some reason, it was kinda easy for me to talk to her about myself.

She had one of those encouraging smiles and joyful personalities that just made you feel safe to say anything around her.

But at the same time... her actions made me feel uneasy in my seat, and I knew exactly why.

The way we were talking, her encouraging me on to talk about myself, making sure to include every little specific detail, was the same way my mother and I would talk.

She would always ask me about my day with a bright smile on her face, while I told her something like how I somehow got an A on my math test or how I saved a turtle on the side walk...

True story in fact.

But it makes me feel bad because it's not Mrs. Black's fault that I feel like this.

I really wish I didn't feel like this.

I want to feel comfortable while speaking to her because she is someone who has shown me nothing but kindness, and that makes me feel so guilty.

But what makes me feel even more guilty is the fact that she could probably sense that I was uncomfortable. My constant swaying side to side and
my frequent stuttering, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I was feeling uneasy.

Unless Damien told her, which I really don't think he did, she has no idea about my mom, so she wouldn't know what could be making me feel uncomfortable.

These types of conversations brings back memories that I didn't even know I had.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Damien's intense stare on me as he sat across the room with his Dad and his sister.

I could see the worry on his face as he observed my swaying from side to side. I tried to stop it before, but I ended up giving up since I kept unknowingly doing it again.

As Mrs.Black was continuing to talk, her phone suddenly went off, causing her to dig through her purse to find it. Once she found it, she looked at the screen before up at me, "I'll be right back sweetie, I just have to take this call real quick, it's for work."

I nod my head at her, telling her that it is okay before she quickly rushes out into the hallway.

As soon as she is gone, I find myself letting out a deep breath that I didn't even know I was holding.

Waiting for her to return, I look down at my thumbs, twiddling them while trying to tell myself to calm down.

I need to stop thinking about my mom. I love her, but I really don't want to mess things up with Mrs.Black.

I don't want her to think that I don't enjoy talking to her, because I really do!

Suddenly, I hear the buzz of my phone go off, causing me to look around for it before finding it underneath my thigh.

I look to see that it was a text message from Damien, to which I look up at him with furrowed eyebrows.

Not really surprised, I find him already looking back at me with his phone in his hand, not engaging in the conversation with his father and sister.

He then flicks his eyes down to his phone before back at me, signaling me to answer him back.

Damien🥰: hey are you okay?

Me: I'm feeling great wdym :)

Damien🥰: Mhhhhm I know you're lying

Me: Me??? Lying!! Psssh never...

Damien🥰: then why are you swaying so much? Care to explain -.-

Me: It's actually spelled "slaying" #boomroasted

Damien🥰: -.-

Me: ;)

Damien🥰: I regret texting you.

Me: Sureeeeeeeee :3

Damien🥰: okay but really though, are you sure you are okay? You're not acting like yourself, and I feel like it's my fault. I'm sorry if my mom is pushing too much on you...

Me: NO!!!! Your mom has seriously been the NICEST person to me! She is so sweet and I'm so glad that I'm getting the chance to talk with her :)

Damien🥰: Thank goodness... I was starting to feel a little guilty.

Me: There is nothing to feel guilty about, your parents are amazing people and I can see where you get some of your personality traits from.

Damien🥰: Some...?

Me: I meant the majority...

Damien🥰: okay then what are the rest of my personality traits?

Me: oh why don't you look at the time... gotta feed my fish brb.

Damien🥰: 1) We are in the same room.  2) You don't have any fish.

Me: And how do you know -.-

Damien🥰: Because I've been inside your room before, remember ;)

Me: I don't recall.

Damien🥰: Oh really, then let me just describe your room for you...

Me: Y-you s-seem to be b-breaking up.

Damien🥰: We aren't even on a-... get back here!!!

Me: Bad internet connection...I guess I gotta go BYEEEEE <3

I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I look up at Damien who was scowling at me from the other side of the room.

Childishly, I stick my tongue out at him, causing him to roll his eyes at me in return. But even from here, I could still see the smile tugging at his lips.

"I'm so sorry about that." Mrs. Black says to me as soon as she returns, causing me to quickly turn away from Damien.

"You're alright, I had to check my phone anyways." I give her a small smile, to which she returns.

"So where were we..." she says, jumping right back into the conversation.

And this time around, I felt a bit more comfortable talking with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm going to drop Amber off at her house and then I'll be home." Damien says to his parents as we walk out of the hospital together.

"That's fine by me, just make sure to drive safely okay?" Mrs.Black says, walking up to Damien and quickly sneaking a kiss onto his forehead, to which he instantly moves away, embarrassed.

"Mom!" He whines, rubbing his forehead with the back of his sleeve, causing her to smirk.

"You act as if you didn't like my goodnight kisses when you were younger-..."

"Mom!"

"Damien!" She mocks back with an evil grin.

"I think we should get going-..."

"Now wait a second, let us say bye to Amber before you take her away." She says, causing Damien to groan.

"Mom......she has a... bedtime."

"Oh do I now?" I question him, amused, to which he glares back at me in return.

"Yes, at," he checks his watch, "8:00pm."

"Oh really? I didn't know that... and I don't think Amber did either." Mrs. Black says, not believing his lie for a single second.

I couldn't help but laugh at the two, along with Mr. Black who just stood to the side, amused at the conversation between his son and his wife.

Something tells me that he is used to this.

"Okay, okay! You can say your goodbyes to Amber then." Damien says, before muttering something under his breath.

His mom let's out a triumphant grin before pushing, and I mean PUSHING her son out of the way to get to me.

It took everything in mean not to laugh at the offended facial expression that Damien made towards his mom.

"Well Amber, I really hope to see you soon, that is, if my son doesn't hog you to himself-..."

"I will not-..."

"AND I would like you to come over sometime. Oh you know what!!! I've always wanted to show someone Damien's baby pictures, and I have so many-..."

"And we'll be heading off now, see you later!!" Damien rushes out, grabbing my hand in his and making a beeline straight to his car.

"Damien!" I giggle as I lightly jog to keep up with his fast walking pace.

"I HAVE SO MANY  PICTURE ALBUMS!! SO VISIT SOON!!!" I can hear his mother screaming from behind us, causing my giggle to turn into a full out laugh.

I had to clutch my stomach with my one hand since Damien still had a hold of my other, and if I wasn't dying of laughter from his moms words, I would probably be blushing.

"Please ignore that." He says once we are both in the car.

"Are you kidding? I might just have to take that offer up on your baby pictures." I nudge him before we both put our seatbelts on.

"But there... embarrassing."

"What baby pictures aren't embarrassing? That just makes them more fun to look back on." I say, as he glances at me for a second before reversing out of the parking spot.

"Then can I see yours?" He asks, glancing at me again.

"Hey eyes on the road mister!"

"Answer my question then." A smirk begins to form on his lips.

"What... question?" I chuckle nervously, looking out my window.

"Can I see your baby pictures?" He asks again.

...

".... no."

"And why not?"

"Because they are..."

"They are?"

"Embarrassing." This time, it was his turn to laugh at me.

"See, I told you."

"Fine, I won't ask to see your baby pictures, but if she offers-..."

"And she shows you, then I get to see yours." He says, causing me to pout.

"B-but that's not fair! Being offered and asking to see them is completely different." I whine, feeling like a five year old all over again.

He chuckles before reaching over to poke my cheek, "All I'm saying is, if you get to see my baby pictures, then I get to see yours."

"How about-..."

"Nope. That's how it's gonna be, I'm not taking any other options."

"But-...."

"Nope."

"What if-..."

"Nope."

"Okay." I lean back in my seat, and feeling defeated, I look over at him with a pout on my lips.

I watch him as he focuses on the road, his jaw clenching every so often when the person in front of him would suddenly slow down.

It was kinda...

Hot.

Oh gosh...

I'm going crazy.

"You're staring." He says, without taking a single glance towards me.

Widening my eyes, I quickly look away from him and look towards my window, feeling embarrassed that I was caught red handed. "

"No I wasn't." I couldn't help but cringe at my words, knowing that it was far from the truth.

And he knew that.

After my words, a couple seconds of silence pass making me think that maybe he wasn't even paying attention.

"You're lucky you're cute."

I'd be lying if I said I didn't blush.

Hey guys!!!!

WE REACHED 1M READS!!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

I freakin love writing this book so much, and I hope you love reading it too.

I'm so proud of where this book is heading and I'm so excited to get down to business ;)

Love you lots!!!

~juls