Page 41 of Forever and Ever

“Yes.” Her face winces and she grabs her side for a second.

“You okay?”

Merry’s face pales the slightest, but she spins around and avoids my gaze.

“Fine,” she says, but she seems flustered all of a sudden. “Just period cramps.”

The look in her eyes seemed like it was a little more, but what would I know.

She busies herself serving all the food, making two big plates of fajitas, and setting out an array of toppings on the counter. On tour, we’ve shared hundreds of meals together, but there’s rarely any cooking happening. Food is always either being made for the band or delivered.

But this meal is something else. Another peek inside the woman who tries to remain a locked fortress. I had no idea she could cook, much less something that looks so delicious.

“This is incredible,” I say, filling my mouth with food, which makes her shake her head and laugh.

“Glad you like it.”

“Like it?” I swallow. “I love it.”

I love you.

It’s a good thing she can’t read my mind.

“Your mom taught you how to cook?” I ask between bites.

She shakes her head, and her lips turn down in the slightest frown. “More like my dad. Yes, my mom can cook, but he’s the one who does the majority of it.”

“How are things with him?”

It’s no secret that Merry’s parents weren’t thrilled with her going on tour with us. And I don’t really blame them. Tour isn’t the tamest place. But what they don’t seem to realize is that their daughter is wilder than half the shit they fear. They might not want to accept it, but Merry is who she is. There’s no taming her, and fuck anyone who would try because she’s perfect as is.

“I think my dad is waiting for me toget it out of my system.” She throws up air quotes with her fingers. “They think it’s a phase I'll outgrow. I don’t really blame them; I just wish they would at least try to understand.”

“Give ‘em time.” I shrug, trying to be supportive. Although, if my family is any indication of how long parents can hold a grudge, then I don’t have much hope to give.

“I love my parents,” Merry says. “But I was never close with them like my sister. They keep wanting me to turn into someone I’m not. I’m not sure they ever really understood me.”

I nod, pushing away my empty plate. “I definitely get it.” More than she knows.

Merry sits back in her chair and folds her arms over her chest giving me that calculating look I love and fear so much.

“You don’t talk about your family,” she points out.

“Nope.” I raise my eyebrows and pull my hair back.

“Why is that?”

This conversation isn’t territory I like treading into. And not because my parents are cruel like Rome’s dad was, or mostly absent like Sebastian and Eloise’s parents. But because they’re the opposite, and yet, they still rejected me.

“My family is complicated,” I say, knowing Merry was bound to broach this subject at some point, and I should be thankful that she even gives a shit to ask.

In the time Merry’s worked for the band, she’s been careful to maintain a safe amount of distance between us physically and emotionally. She tries to keep the conversation light and doesn’t dig into tougher subjects. But sitting in my kitchen, here she is…asking.

Merry’s interest is what I’ve wanted since the day we met, but I’m surprised to feel my defenses fortifying at the thought of talking to her about my parents. Certain subjects dig into deep wounds where only infection festers, and this is one of them.

“All families are complicated.” Merry hitches her eyebrow because she no doubt knows I’m avoiding the question.

“Yeah.” I wipe my palm over my face and lean forward, placing my elbows on the island. “My mom and dad are good people, you know? Religious, involved in the community, all that bullshit. The church band is where I first fell in love with music. My sisters and my brother all got involved once we were old enough.”

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