Page 41 of Closing the Distance

“I love her, Tanner.”

“You can’t be serious,” he scoffs. “You barely know her!”

“We’ve been together for a couple of months now.”

“That’s no time at all to con you.”

“That’s enough,” my voice goes hard as steel. “You don’t get to make judgments about her or me when you can’t even be adult enough to meet her. You don’t know her, and frankly, I’m questioning if you know me at all anymore. Because if you did, you wouldn’t be questioning my judgment like this. She’s not conning me. And the more you push that assumption, the more you drive me away. So think carefully about what the endgame is here, brother, because if you make me choose between you and her, I will choose her. Always.”

“You’d really choose a woman you barely know over your own blood?”

“You mean, my own blood who’s being a pompous asshole and won’t even meet her before deciding she’s some gold digger? That blood? Because frankly, that’s not the kind of blood I want in my family.”

He’s silent, but his silence speaks volumes. He’s got nothing to say because he knows I’m right.

But maybe my mom’s right too, because a year ago he wouldn’t have reacted this way. I thought we were close and told each other all the important things, but I’m wondering if this is more personal for him. If something—or someone—made him this way. Before I have a chance to ask about my hunch, his cold voice rings through the line.

“Have a good Thanksgiving, Ty.”

And then he hangs up.

TWENTY-THREE

I was so nervous on our way to Ty’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving, but I’m realizing after spending a day and a half with them how unnecessary that was. I’ve never experienced so much love in one place. Last night after we first got here, I was overwhelmed by the love that was obvious between everyone. Ty’s family welcomed me with open arms, and I couldn’t get enough of their stories about their childhood or about Ty and his antics when he was little.

Apparently he was a bit of a daredevil as a child. I’m really hoping our kid doesn’t take after him on that front. I don’t think my heart could handle it.

His mom showed me pictures of him growing up, their family dog they had until a few years ago, and their sons’ early years playing sports. All night long, I felt like I was being wrapped in a warm blanket made from unconditional love and acceptance.

Today was more of the same. Ty’s mom made a huge feast for all of us, but it was the moment when dessert was pulled out when I nearly cried. His mom had made a pecan pie just for me. It’s one of the few things I remember from my childhood before my parents died, and something I told Ty one night. I didn’t realize he’d held on to that little tidbit of information so tightly—not until his mom presented it and told me Ty had requested it for me. It was hard to keep my emotions at bay at that point. I’d been teetering on the edge of tears since we arrived, but that moment made my heart feel like it had cracked into a million tiny pieces and been carefully and painstakingly glued back together. The tears fell unbidden, and his poor mom’s face fell, until I shook my head and smiled at her through my tears. I couldn’t tell her why I was so emotional about a damn pie, but she didn’t ask either. She just set the pie down, walked over to me, and hugged me tight.

We spent the rest of the night playing board games until I could barely keep my eyes open and Ty took me to bed. I fell asleep with his strong arms wrapped around me and my heart feeling fuller than I could ever remember it.

But twenty minutes ago, my bladder woke me up—something that’s been happening more and more frequentlyas my pregnancy progresses—and now I’m wide awake. So, once I finish using the bathroom, I head downstairs to get a small snack, hoping that might help like it usually does.

I’m surprised when I round the corner and find the light on in the kitchen and Ty’s mom sitting at the table. She looks up from her book, her dark-green glasses sitting on the edge of her nose and her eyes wide.

“I swore I was only going to read one more chapter.” She glances at the clock and then back at me, a guilty grin on her face. “That was about two hours ago, and now I can’t put the dang thing down.”

I laugh and walk into the kitchen. “I was hoping to sneak a snack.”

“A snack sounds delicious. I think I’ll have one with you.”

She moves to get up, but I hold my hand out. “No, please, let me get it. You worked so hard on all the food today. You deserve to sit and relax.”

She sits back in her chair, her smile still on her face, and nods in acquiescence as I move around the kitchen and put a couple of snack options together. I can’t think of a single time since I got here when she hasn’t smiled at me. It’s been nice.

I’ve never met a boyfriend’s parents before. I dated a few guys in my late teens and early twenties, but they were all older and, well, not exactly close to their parents. They weren’t close to anyone, me included. So this experience with Ty’s family has been more than I ever dreamed was possible.

I take the two plates of snacks over to the table and sit next to her. “What are you reading?”

Her smile turns a little mischievous. “A romance I saw recommended online.” She lifts up the book, showing me the cover, and excitement thrums through me.

I look at what page she’s on. “What did you think of her finding his ex in his bed?”

Tina’s eyes widen. “You’ve read this?”

“Romance novels are my guilty pleasure.”

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