Page 10 of Unraveled

I held out my hand, showing off my ring as the diamonds sparkled under the light and sunset shining in through the glass.

“Oh, Izzy, it’s gorgeous.” Helen took my hand, and Harper, Chelsea, and Vicky all leaned in to look with oohs and aahs.

“You havereallygreat taste, Tucker,” Harper praised.

“Seriously, it’s beautiful.” Vicky smiled up at her big brother. “Right, Chels?”

“Definitely.”

“Girls, why don’t y’all go down to the beach to play? Archer and Colton, y’all, too.” Jenna set down her champagne glass, her expression flat.

The little moment of joy I’d gotten just then vanished as my stomach tensed, especially when I looked back at Mom, her face frozen in anger and her cheeks flushed. I knew she was biting her tongue, and as soon as the kids grumbled and disappeared down the porch steps, she lost it.

“You havegotto be kidding me, young lady,” she hissed.

“I’m not,” I said, my voice firm.

“Or is the ring not a big enough tip off, Mom.”

“Not now, Annabel.” But her gaze never left mine. “Y’all are too young to get married.”

“I agree.” Jenna looked at Chuck. “Dear?”

He just shook his head, that vein Tucker and I were privy to last November with our last big news pulsing in his forehead. He didn’t have to speak for me to know he was pissed. When he did, he would blow.

“This is a mistake.” Mom started up again. “After everything you two have been through, you can’t possibly think you’re ready for marriage.”

“That’s exactly why we think we are,” Tucker replied, earning her glare next. “We’ve been through everything together, and despite everything that’s been thrown our way, we’re still together. We’re stronger than ever.” He gave a slight squeeze to my waist.

We still hadn’t sat down, standing near the head of the table. I wasn’t sure about Tucker, but to me, sitting would be like conceding to the battle. Saying we forfeit when we knew we’d already won.

Mom tossed her head back with a scoff. “You can’t be serious. I watched my daughter break down the first night I was home and then the way she crumbled last night before y’all snuck out. Both after fights she had withyou.”

I didn’t have to look up to know the way Tucker’s eyes narrowed, and Uncle Blake hissed, “Bridge, enough. Sit down.” He fixed her chair, but she refused, her hands pressing to the table as she leaned forward.

“How long until you’re bored, Tucker, and you start chasing every girl that walks down that beach like you used to?”

“Mom!” I cried as Jenna gasped, gaping at her friend, and Chuck barked with a warning glare.

“Watch it!”

Mom glanced down at her friends and finally took her seat when Uncle Blake gave her a stern look.

“Maybe we should wait outside and go watch the kids.” Helen looked at Stef, and he nodded, the two of them quietly stepping out.

The room stayed silent, but so much pulsed in the atmosphere. I looked up at Tucker as he looked down, the two of us not saying a word. After last night, we didn’tneed to. We were exactly on the same page. Tucker gave me a tiny nod, signaling for me to go ahead, and I looked around at our best friends and fuming parents.

Annie and Jet sat together, our pillars of support across the table from us. It was our parents further down that I had to reach.

“Are y’all done?”

Jenna and Chuck looked over, both silently fuming, while Mom raised an eyebrow, her mouth open to retort until Uncle Blake placed a warning hand on her arm. He looked at me.

“Go ahead, Izzy.”

Giving him a small smile first, I smoothed my hands over the skirt of my dress, willing my heart to stop racing in my chest. I took a breath.

“I know y’all are upset, and I understand. Like you said, Mom, last night was rough. The past five months have been hell, honestly, but Tucker is the only reason I made it through everything. We fought last night, ultimatums were made, but it was exactly what we needed to break the walls down and finally deal with our grief. We’ll never fully get over the scars losing Zoey left, but we’re really healing now and in a good place.”

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