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The Millers

Amina

Roxanne kept the introductions very brief, but neither I nor the older couple truly cared. Instead, their interest rested solely on my friend while mine suddenly turned to the small group of men heading from the diner's back towards the front door. They must have been sitting at one of the far-end tables, for I hadn't noticed them coming in. Yet, now, as they left the restaurant and strode across the square, they were all I could see. All three were tall, tanned, and svelte, and just when I thought they were the most handsome men ever to live, my eyes fell on him; the impossibly gorgeous creature they rushed to meet, the man whose beauty surpassed everyone's, even their own.

My entire body stiffened at the sight of this broad-shouldered stranger, and my heart quite literally skipped a beat as I watched him wave and smile at the other men. I couldn't remember a single thing more alluring than his beautiful dark hair, his deep blue eyes, and the way he so self-assuredly walked to meet them. He carried himself with so much confidence; it was almost too intimidating to watch. Yet, nothing could've torn my eyes away from him. I was transfixed, glued to every detail, every one of his movements; there was nothing too small to ignore.

I watched and examined him more intently than anything else in my life, and while I did, Roxanne's voice and those of her acquaintances slowly faded into the background. Everything around me did, and for just a minute more, nothing mattered other than this sun-kissed hunk of a man.

It had been years since I felt anything as remotely delightful as the excitement he stirred in me, and I found myself suddenly craving for more. More from life and more from him, this stranger I knew nothing of. What was happening?

I couldn't say, but I could feel a sense of angst suddenly take hold of me as he neared the hardware store and threatened to disappear inside.

'No, no, no! Stop! Turn around!' I desperately pleaded to him in my head, scared to lose his intoxicating magic.

But when he unexpectedly stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around, my breath hitched deep in my throat. Even from a distance, I could see his thick eyebrows furrow, his nostrils flare, and his piercing eyes begin a search. My jaw dropped and snapped shut again, and my heart started to race. What was he looking for? Me? Had he heard my cries? Had I unwittingly screamed out loud and revealed my infatuation to him and the entire world? No, it couldn't be.

My gaze reluctantly darted away from the perfect stranger and towards my best friend, and instant relief washed over me, for Roxanne still seemed engrossed in her conversation with the older couple. Fortunately, I had spared myself the humiliation, but victory was only short-lived, for in less time than it took to turn my head back and around, the stranger disappeared from view. Fuck!

"Don't worry; I'll let my parents know, but it was nice to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Waters," I heard Roxanne say as the man and woman she stood to hug both bowed their heads and left.

"What the hell was that, Roxy?" I asked her, puzzled at the exchange. "Did they just bow to you?"

"No! Well, yes, but not really," she chuckled awkwardly while our young waitress made her way to us.

"Not really?"

"It's nothing, just a small sign of respect. My family is kind of a big deal around here. Well, my brother especially."

"What do you mean?" I asked her, stomach growling as the teen laid out our food and drinks in front of us and left.

"Let's talk about it later, Mina. I'm starving, and clearly, you are too."

She was right about that; I was hungry, and the burgers looked as good as she promised. So without another word, we dug into our meal, and the minutes turned into an hour, then two. After a while, Roxanne filled the silent air by telling me about her plans for the summer, and even though I tried my best, I couldn't concentrate. My eyes, despite myself, kept wandering back towards the windows, relentlessly hoping for another glimpse of my stranger and hoping that this time, perhaps, he, too, could see me.

'God, what is wrong with you?' I scolded myself silently.

I called him mine. Had I completely lost my mind? No. Not again, never again. I swore to that years ago, so whoever this man was, however beautiful he may have been, his pull on me could go no further. I wouldn't allow it.

"Mina, my parents are here!" Roxanne's loud squealing suddenly pulled me out of my head.

She jumped to her feet, grinning from ear to ear, and my eyes followed hers to the diner's door, where her parents appeared. Her mother led the walk over to us, and I found myself speechless for the second time this evening. The pair looked like a couple straight out of the movies!

Her mother was a beautiful and elegant woman, petite but not frail, with long wavy brown hair like her daughter, and as she neared us, I could see that both she and Roxanne, indeed, shared many lovely traits. They had the same greenish-blue eyes and a killer smile; however, her height, she inherited from her father. The man was remarkably tall and bulky and sported a salt and pepper beard trimmed as short as the hair on his head. But, despite his imposing physique, his best features were arguably the bright and captivating silver eyes that starred on his face.

I was thoroughly mesmerized by him, her, their daughter, and by the sudden wave of love that warmed the air as the family shared an embrace.

"Mommy! Daddy! I've missed you guys so much!" Roxanne tearfully cooed in their arms. "It's been too long!"

"Well, of course, honey. A few years, give or take another few years," her dad joked with a big smile.

"My baby's finally home," her mom said with tears of her own. "We've missed you so much, Roxy."

"Me too, mom!" Roxanne replied before looking back and introducing me. "Guys, I want you to meet my friend," she smiled. "The one I've been talking about all these years, Amina Langley."

My eyes widened in surprise at her words. She seldom spoke about her family, so I never imagined she'd talk to them about me much.

"Ah, yes! The old college roommate and first-class nurse that loves to cook," Roxanne's father proved me wrong as he went on describing me. "We've heard so much about you, Amina."

"You are so beautiful," her mother added in a soft voice before pulling me into a hug. "My name is Grace Miller, and this is my husband, Carson. We're so happy to meet you finally."

"Umm, thank you. Me too," I mumbled, returning Grace's hug. "Please, call me Mina, though. Only my mother uses Amina."

"No problem, Mina. Pretty either way," Carson smiled. "How about us all head home now, huh? What do you say, girls? I'm sure your journey here has been very long and tiring," he said, bending to gather both mine and his daughter's heavy bags.

"Please, let me help you with th-" I started to say but stopped, stunned as Carson lifted and threw our bags behind his shoulders with incredible ease.

"Oh, don't worry, Mina," he smiled. "These things weigh practically nothing, I assure you!"

"Not for us anyway," Grace said with a wink. "I'm sure you've noticed that," she added, glancing at her daughter, whom I indeed always considered as the strongest person ever until now.

"Yeah, yeah, it runs in the family, whatever," Roxanne brushed off, following her father to the exit. "We just got here, mom. Can we not do this right now?"

"Alright, honey, then when?" Grace asked her daughter, one hand on my back as she guided me outside. "The sooner, the better," she added.

My confusion only grew further as we walked across the square to their large SUV, and in only that short distance, twenty or so people stopped the Millers in groups to say hello. And if everyone else we passed chose to keep their distance, they made sure to nod in acknowledgment of the trio. It was incredible to see. I was amazed, perplexed, but, above everything, intrigued. Who were these Millers, really?

I needed to know. And so, looking for clues, I listened intently to the three of them talking and laughing while we drove through the naked streets of the city, but alas. The conversation revolved only around how much they had missed each other, and while the extent of Roxanne's love for her family completely took me by surprise, I learned no more about them now than I had in the previous six years.

My interest and curiosity were at an all-time high, and what I saw next only added fuel to the fire growing within.

"What the hell," I let out as the Millers' car made its final sharp turn down the longest driveway ever. "You've got to be kidding me!"

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