a visit to Uncle Bentley and Auntie Emmy. My dad came with me for moral support.
Addi was sitting with her parents on their deck, drinking coffee, when my dad and I approached. I sat beside her, my hand finding hers under the table and squeezing her fingers. I swallowed nervously then met Uncle Bent’s eyes. His expression was stern, his brow furrowed as he looked between us. Then he spoke.
“You are aware the table is glass and I can see that,” he said, indicating our clasped hands.
I glanced down then began to laugh. I had forgotten that fact. Addi joined in my laughter, and I relaxed when the adults did as well.
“So, you’re together now?” Emmy asked, smiling at us.
“Yes.”
“Have you thought this out? What will happen if this doesn’t work?” Bentley asked. “How it will affect everyone around you?”
My dad and Nan had asked the same question, so I wasn’t surprised to hear him ask it as well. I drew in a deep breath before I responded.
“I’m young, Uncle Bent, not stupid. We talked about that. But it’s not going to happen.” I met his serious gaze. “Addi is it for me.”
“You’re sixteen. She’s a year ahead of you. What happens when she goes to university and you’re still in high school?”
I shook my head. “I’m in advanced classes, Uncle Bent. I’ll be going with her. And if we choose different schools, we’ll figure it out.” I didn’t bother to tell him we already knew we would be going together.
Addi leaned forward. “You tell me all the time I’m like mom—young in years with an old soul.”
Uncle Bentley’s gaze grew warm, softening his stern look. “You are,” he admitted.
“So is Brayden,” my dad pointed out. “Come on, Bent, we always said this was going to happen. They’ve always been entwined. You can’t possibly be surprised. It was inevitable.”
He sighed and rubbed his eyes, then held up his hand. “Ground rules.”
I bit back my grin. Uncle Bent always had ground rules.
He pointed at me. “You be careful. She’s still young.”
I felt myself flush, knowing exactly what he was saying.
“We’re both too young,” I mumbled. I knew we were both still virgins. For me, sex and love went hand in hand, and Addi was the same way. Although we had dated a few people, it had never gone that far for either of us.
“Good. Keep it that way until you’re thirty—or even better, when I’m dead.”
Auntie Emmy burst out laughing. “Stop it, Rigid. You’re overreacting as usual. They’re both good kids and plan to take this slow.” She looked at us, one eyebrow lifted. “Right?”
We were both quick to agree.
“Same curfew and rules apply, Addi. I don’t care whose son he is.” He looked at me. “You pick her up and have her home at the set times. We prefer group outings. And no sneaking off while we’re here.
“Same rules apply when we go back to Toronto. And when you start driving, you keep both hands on the wheel.”
“Done.” I had my learner’s permit and planned on taking my test as soon as possible.
“You both will be respectful to us. Both your sets of parents. If we think things are getting too serious or you aren’t following the rules, we’re addressing it.”
I agreed, nothing he said surprising me. I was actually shocked he didn’t have more to say, but I had a feeling he would come to me later and talk to me privately. I also knew it was going to be far more personal and I wasn’t going to enjoy it. But I would take it because it was for Addi.
“We’re just starting, Uncle Bent. We wanted to be upfront with you. I don’t want to hide anything or be deceitful.” My parents were big on the truth and had drummed that into my head my whole life.
He smiled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “I appreciate that, Brayden.” He met my gaze. “You take care of my little girl, and we won’t have a problem. Otherwise…” He let the words trail off, then grinned. “I’ll set Aiden on you.”
“I will,” I promised after the laughter had died down. I hunched closer, everyone else disappearing as I spoke directly to him. “I care about her a lot, Uncle Bent. I won’t hurt her. But seeing her with anyone else hurt me, so I had to speak up.”
He clasped my shoulder with a firm nod. “I trust you, Brayden. If I didn’t, you’d be in the lake by now.”