Page 26 of Might as Well

“I’m not going anywhere, babe.” He says it so resolutely and with such surety, I am stunned silent. “You okay with that?”

I nod. If he wants to stick around, who am I to tell him he can’t? Even if I think he’s crazy for doing so.

After dinner, I decide to call Cassie. I don’t always let her in and maybe I should do better. She’s messaged me a few times over the last few days and I’ve ignored her. It’s weird to open up a little to her and answer her questions, but I do it. Two hours pass before I exit Zane’s bedroom and rejoin him in the living room.

“Good talk?” he asks, his brows rising as I straddle him.

“Yes. Sorry I was on the phone for so long.”

“You’re fine. You gonna meet my parents next week?”

Gee, I didn’t realize Thanksgiving was so close. As if realizing something, Zane frowns.

“What do you normally do for the holidays? Please don’t say nothing.”

When I don’t answer in order to obey and not say nothing, Zane groans.

“You’re killing me, Violet.”

“Can we focus on something else? Please?” I ask. “I kinda missed you.”

Zane grins that cute boyish grin. “What would you like to focus on?”

I lean down to kiss him. Maybe I didn’t make a bad decision when I drunkenly picked my husband. Zane has to be the sweetest person I’ve ever met. He’s strong and steadfast. Unwavering. He’s the rock I didn’t know existed. One I didn’t realize just how badly I needed.

Time seems to fly and way too soon, the holiday is upon us. Zane keeps telling me that things will be fine, that his parents will love me. I don’t believe him one bit. We’ll find out soon enough. With things growing ever more precarious with Graham, I didn’t bother inviting him. He goes to a friend’s house every year anyway.

“Zane, sweetie?” I freeze at the sound of a woman entering the house.

Zane flashes me a big smile and calls out, “In here, Mom.”

A moment later, his parents find us in the kitchen. They immediately hug Zane and turn to me. They’re smiling, so that’s a positive.

“You must be Violet. I wish I could say my son has told me plenty about you, but he hasn’t. He’s barely called lately.” His mom gathers me in a hug as well, causing me to freeze up again.

“Mom, I’ve been busy and I still call at least once a week.”

She rolls her eyes. “Let’s chat.”

“Mom,” Zane says, causing her to not yet cart me off. “Stop. Violet, this is my mom, Ellen, and my dad, Mack.”

“Nice to meet you both.” His dad reaches out and shakes my hand.

“I still need her help,” Zane says. “Why don’t you two go freshen up and drop your things in the guest bedroom?”

“Oh, all right.”

I’m not sure I can do this, or that I want to. Really, this is his time with his family and I shouldn’t intrude on their precious time together.

“Come help me finish,” Zane says softly, snapping me out of my panic.

I’m floored that he’s cooked a feast all himself. He’s asked me to help here and there, but he’s done it all himself. It smells so good in here. I’m not sure if his mom imparted some cooking wisdom on him or if it’s the Food Network, or maybe both. He knows his way around a kitchen more than I do.

I’m also grateful he is giving me a few more moments to prepare myself to be around his parents. We gather the plates and utensils and Zane tells me what drinks to fix as well. All too soon, our dinner is ready, we’ve fixed our plates, and we’ve sat down to eat.

Zane, the sweet, sweet man, controls the conversation so far. He asks about their flight and if his dad is excited for theupcoming week as apparently he gets to travel with the team. The love and pride between them is clear.

Ellen jumps on the first tiny lull.

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