More Than Meets the Eye - Page 136

It had been no easy feat, trying to be a supportive, reassuring partner while Baz had been freaking out himself.He had never expected to need to impress anyone’s parents since he had never expected to have a serious partner in the first place, and he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d be awful at it.

Most people didn’t care much for him when meeting him for the first time.Or the second.

Worse, he and Sami had flown out to California to meet them and were set to spend the week in Sami’s old bedroom, which meant no escapes, no safe spaces to retreat to and catch a break if things went south.

His heart was pounding in his throat, his ears, everywhere but where it was supposed to be when they deplaned and stepped into San Diego’s dry heat.He clutched Sami’s hand, tried to stop his brain from playing out every possible way meeting Sami’s parents could end in disaster.Such as them hating Baz or deeming him a bad match, and then Sami would break up with him and move back to California and…breathe.

Spirals like that did not help.They were awfully difficult to shut down too, however.

They had just left the terminal when a tiny figure in a flowing, orange skirt with dark curls had screeched so loudly, it sent the seagulls squirming, frantically waving a ‘welcome home’ sign over her head.

Sami dropped the suitcase and welcomed his mother into his arms.She was so short, even he had to bend down.

The words of welcome were more Arabic than English, but whatever she was saying had Sami’s eyes glaze over and embrace her once more.All the while, a balding man with a thick beard approached them, adjusting the thin glasses on his nose.Height was not a strong gene in Sami’s family.

“Hello, son.”

“Dad!”Sami hugged him too, long and so effortlessly, Baz couldn’t help but envy him for it.His own family dynamic had improved drastically in the past months, but he and Jack were still far from falling into each other’s arms at the airport.

“And you must be Baz!”Sami’s mom said, the hint of an accent coloring her words.“Oh, welcome, welcome!”She pulled him into her arms.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs.Adam.”

“Why so formal?We’re family!Call me Halima.I’m so happy to finally meet you.Sami wouldn’t shut up about you.It was all, Baz Baz Baz Baz Baz.”

“Mom,” Sami whined.The blush Baz so adored warmed his face.

“Good to meet you, son.The name’s Ryan.”Sami’s dad offered his hand.Tight grip.Nice.“Even better to see you’re not pregnant.”

A startled laugh came out of Baz’s mouth in lieu of words because, really, what could he say to that?Could he joke aboutnot yet, or, what, should he pretend they were virgins?

Sami facepalmed himself.The ball of his hand left a red mark on his forehead.

“You know what, never mind.Let’s turn around—”

“Don’t you dare, silly boy!”Halima broke out into Arabic, lightly—and repeatedly—slapping Sami’s arm.Sami wrapped it around her shoulders instead, laughing.Walking away.How nice.Baz collected his abandoned suitcase.Sami was lucky he was cute.

To say the Adam family was welcoming would not do justice to the royal treatment he and Sami received.Halima offered them more food than Baz could eat in a lifetime—Sami had not been kidding about her hummus; Joel would be thrilled to get the recipe—and offered childhood stories about Sami’s various clumsy adventures in delightful abundance.

This was a family that played board games together and spoke until the early hours of the morning, simply because they enjoyed each other’s company.In fact, it was near impossible to get a word in between Sami and Halima.Baz loved every second of it.

With his own nerves settled, it got easier to reassure Sami that his parents were awesome and only wanted the best for him.They were curled up in Sami’s childhood bed, under a poster of a young Mark Ruffalo—hard to believe Sami’s parents hadn’t guessed his sexuality long before he had come out to them.

“They are gonna be hurt I lied to them for so long,” Sami whispered into the night.Baz wasn’t an expert on healthy child-parent relationships, but…

“I’m sure they’ll mostly be happy that you’re safe and found your way again.”

“What if they aren’t?”

“Then you’ll still have me.And Naija, and the gang.And let’s be honest, my family is ready to adopt you.Just say the word.”

Sami chuckled and snuggled into his chest.

Baz’s prediction hadn’t been far from the truth.Sami’s tearful confession was met with plenty of hugs, words of reassurance about how proud they were of him, which had Baz tearing up as well—and suddenly, he, too, was pulled into the family hug.

Halima detangled herself first, declared they needed food to process the news and put out what she called Fatayer Za’atar, a.k.a.the best cheesy flatbread Baz ever had.

With every gourmet meal they shared in the comfortable warmth of the southern Californian winter, he understood less why Sami had chosen to move away from home at all.Baz only boarded the plane back to the below freezing, snowed-in windy city because of a backpack full of leftovers and Halima’s standing invitation to return anytime.