▫️Twenty

Ginelle's pov

My heart beat unusually fast and I felt as if my lungs were caving in. The funny movement I felt in my tummy when I was with him intensified. I was melting, no, my body felt all mushy and warm.

I had kissed Grey's neck.

This was embarrassing at first, doing it without his consent and a small part of me recoiled at what I had done but him reciprocating the affection had me blushing harder.

When I was younger, mama tended to kiss my neck when I was anxious. It usually helped and I don't know where the thought of trying that on a grown man had come from.

I tried to forget what had happened for a moment as I watched my surroundings. My face however couldn't remain neutral at all. Grey was holding my hand.

He was ever warm and as I moved closer to his side, his cologne got to my senses that I felt light headed for a second. There was that constricting knot in my stomach when he moved his thumb over my fingers.

"There?" I tried to appear calm when Grey pointed to a mass of people on the right side of us. He was helping me find my parents since the wings and hallways appeared so similar that I didn't know where I was at the moment.

My eyes looked over and I spotted my mama right away. She was talking to papa, who had to lean down to hear what she was saying. I could tell they were worried so I rushed over towards them, breaking free from Grey.

"Ellie!" Papa saw me first due to his height and I lunged into his arms. He embraced me lovingly, kissing my forehead as he ruffled my hair. Mama sighed beside us and she joined us in the hug. I had missed them dearly.

"Have you been eating?" Mama slowly turned me around as she furrowed at my body. I nodded earnestly, trying to make her believe me. I might have lost a few pounds after coming back to the city.

"I'm sure she has been, dear." Papa easily defended and I smiled all the more. Seeing them had brought so much joy in me and I hoped they would stay longer in town.

"I missed you sweetie," mama cupped my face and kissed my cheeks warmly. Everyone in our family was affectionate. Even when we were in public, my parents didn't hold back.

"I missed you both," papa came to hold my hand and I wrapped my other one around mama. I knew how busy they were as business people but they always visited every month.

My eyes widened when I realized I had left Grey out. I detached myself from my parents and walked to his side. He was still standing at the spot I had left him. He gazed at us in a way I hadn't seen before.

It was tender and so gentle that I thought I'd dissolve under his eyes. He appeared to be in a daze and when I shook his arm, he smiled at me. It wasn't just his barely there smile. This one was wide and deep.

I could see his pearly white teeth and his dimple was now even more prominent. I smiled back as I led him to my parents who stared at us in wonder. I had never seen mama look that surprised.

"Mama, papa, this is Grey." I released his arm as I gauged my parents reactions. Papa stared hard at him and I turned to mama who now had a ghost of a smile on. She was the first one to react.

"You're Ellie's friend?" Mama came forward and took his hands in her own, surprising both of us. She was smiling brightly and I turned to look at Grey.

He nodded at her question and I tried not to laugh at how short mama was standing in front of him. She beamed at him and I noticed that the tips of his ears had started to redden.

He was getting shy.

I tried to get mama's attention so that Grey didn't feel flustered but papa cleared his throat making us turn towards him. He didn't carry the excitement mama had and I felt my smile drop.

I had made a new friend on my own and I thought he would be so happy for me. Mama seemed to notice my change of mood since she nudged his side and gave him a slight glare.

Papa finally extended his hand for a handshake and I smiled when Grey shook his hand. They stood shoulder to shoulder with papa boring his eyes at him.

"Great height," Grey nodded and they seemed to break off their intense eye contact. Mama tried to pull Grey into another conversation and I knew how much of a story teller she was.

"You have work?" I stood on my toes to whisper to his ear. Reece had told me that they were here for work and I didn't want to take much of his time. He was the captain.

He gave me a small nod and I tried not to appear disappointed. I wanted him to stay longer but he still had his duties waiting. Nodding in understanding, I told him to thank Reece and Clarissa for taking care of me.

I wasn't aware that such a dangerous thing was happening at the airport and I felt so worried when Clarissa had brought me to a safer place after explaining what their mission was.

She had been nice to me and I felt bad for not thanking her physically. I had liked her red hair though I hadn't told her but I think she was pretty cool. Perhaps I could have asked her to be friends but that would be odd.

"I'll call you?" Grey asked next to my ear and I shivered at his minty breath that fanned the side of my neck. The spot he had just kissed. I tried to control my thoughts especially since my parents were watching.

"Mmm," I stared back at him but turned to my parents when he didn't look away. I was loosing myself severally into the pools of his eyes. I told mama that Grey had to get back to work and she nodded halfheartedly.

"It was nice meeting you sir, ma'am." He bowed his head a bit and I think I heard mama mumble about how cute Grey was being. With one last glance at me, he turned and left.

I stared at his back till he disappeared into another hallway. "Are you sure he's just a friend?" Mama's voice next to me made me slightly jump. She gave me a knowing smile when I didn't reply.

"Bestiee!" A too familiar voice shouted a few steps away and I squealed when I saw Leila running towards us. Louis tried to catch up behind her but the luggage he was pulling seemed to be too heavy.

"Leila!" She crushed me into a tight hug as she swayed our bodies sideways. I had missed her for the almost two weeks she had been away. We pulled apart and giggled when the clip of her hair got tangled in my own.

I was receiving so many hugs today.

"How was your trip?" I asked knowing she had saved dozens of pictures that I couldn't wait to see. Her skin had tanned and she had become even prettier.

"It was so perfect," Leila winked over my head no doubt at Louis who I knew was talking to papa. I guess they were not shying from each other anymore from what I could tell.

"Wait a minute," mama looked over at Leila then back at Louis. "What airline were you in and what were your seat numbers?" Louis answered her and I moved closer to hear better.

"It was them, dear." Mama turned to papa who seemed to nod in agreement and I looked between the two of them confused. Without notice, she pinched Leila's arm earning a slight wince from her.

"When did you two start going out, heh." Mama slapped her arm again and I watched Leila and Louis lock eyes in what could have been embarrassment. What had they really been doing during the flight, I wondered.

"Just recently," Louis replied as he gave Leila an apologetic look. Mama usually pinched really hard but I knew she was just watching out for us because after talking briefly with Louis she back to her usual self.

"You were being so cute back in the plane, it reminded me of my youthful days." Papa smiled at her as they entwined their hands, softly gazing at each. Their actions were still youthful.

"Now Elle is the only one yet to meet someone special," papa spoke and I shyly looked down at my feet when they all turned to look at me.

"Maybe she already has," Leila replied loud enough for everyone to hear. I lifted my head to meet her eyes where she playfully winked and I quickly turned away knowing I was blushing.

"She better not!" Papa countered and I giggled at their bickering. Leila and Louis soon bid us farewell after promising to visit later in the week.

A few moments later after they left we took a cab to my apartment. My parents asked me endless questions during the ride, whether everything was okay at work, how Lora and Dalton were doing, if I wanted to go back with them.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying the foods they had brought from home. I remembered to set Lora's aside before I ended up devouring them all.

I also prepared a few others for Jordan, Louis and Leila. I planned to spare some of the fruits for Grey but I couldn't promise whether they would get to him.

I tended to have a massive appetite, sometimes.

I decided to take a long shower while my parents made dinner. It had been a long day after we chatted endlessly, reminiscing of the memories we shared together and my parents reminding me of the embarrassing things I had done in the past.

We had eventually watched a show in the afternoon over ice cream that I had coaxed mama into agreeing. Even though she didn't show it, I knew she had liked the many flavours.

I had just finished dressing when my phone began to vibrate on my night-stand. I picked it up and plopped down on the bed knowing it was Leila who wanted to get some information out of me.

I had almost received the call when I suddenly sat up and stared at my phone screen wide-eyed. Leila wasn't the one calling. It was Grey, and this was a video call.

I answered after adjusting my extra large night shirt and sitting up properly. The moment his face appeared on the screen, I smiled widely and excitement bubbled through me just at the sight of him.

We stared at each other without saying anything and even though he was seeing me through the screen, his gaze remained soft and I blushed looking away first.

"Hey," I awkwardly waved as I tried to hide my cheeks. I heard shuffling from his background and when it had finally stopped, I realized that he had moved closer to the screen.

"How are you, sweetheart." I had to bite back a smile as I told him of what I had done with my parents all day. He listened to my rambles, his eyes unblinking but I saw him grin several times.

"What about you?" I didn't want to talk about myself so much. I also wanted to hear from him. He was slowly starting to get more words out as we spoke though he was still reserved.

"Just work," he replied briefly and I nodded. I guess he had been so busy all day though he didn't look tired through the screen. "In your room?" He asked when I moved my phone to the left.

I nodded then eagerly showed him the fruits I had intended to share with him. They had still been on my table and I told him of the various varieties. They weren't popular in town so most people weren't familiar with them.

"Should I visit?" He asked after I had told him about the last fruit. I was tempted to think he was joking because I didn't understand at first till he added, "so that I can come for those juicy treats."

I clasped my hands together and shyly ducked my head lower at his words. For a moment I forgot we were talking about fruits because he was rubbing his thumb against the corners of his mouth.

We went silent after that, just looking back at each other and exchanging smiles. I could tell he was in his living room even after only being there once.

He then extended his thumb to the screen of his phone and I assumed he was either wiping something away or checking a notification but what he said next might have send me flying to another planet. "I miss you,"

My mouth opened and closed twice as the words sank in. I was at a loss of words and I could only stare back at the man who had butterflies swarming at the pit of my stomach just at his gaze.

"What are you doing up there? Dinner is ready." Mama's voice came just outside my door and I knew we had to end our conversation. He nodded after I told him that we would talk soon.

Just after ending the call, mama came in and I tried to hide my phone from her view though I knew it was futile. She had probably seen it or worse heard our conversation.

"It was him?" I nodded seeing no need to hide it from her. She smiled as she sat at the edge of my bed. "Why didn't you tell me you had such an handsome friend?"

I laughed away choosing not to reply but my door creaked open and papa walked in. He had an irritable look on his face. "Handsome my foot," mama rolled her eyes at him as he sat beside her.

"I thought you liked him," we both turned to look at papa and he seemed caught up in his own conflicting words.

"What does he do?" Papa asked and they both stared at me anticipating my answer. I could almost tell their reactions even before I spoke out.

"He's in the army," their heads turned to each other as soon as I had said the words. I saw the worried looks they had on their faces.

Grey's job was dangerous, I knew that and I always worried everytime he was out there fighting. I was learning to embrace this because my heart was already set.

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This was more of a family bonding chapter. I hope you like it nonetheless.

Guys we are now at 10k reads!! It feels so surreal to me that this book has come to this point. Thank you all for reading!