Page 114 of Wild Side
She and Paul have returned from their camping trip, and when they found out I was in town, they insisted on having us over. Their house is comfortable and cozy, if not totally generic.
They’ve ordered in Chinese food, have each cracked a beer, and seem so elated to have us here that I almost feel uncomfortable.
The things making me feel better are Milo on one side of me—chair pushed extra close—and Tabitha on the other.
“It’s so nice that you two had a few days together. How romantic of you, Rhys, to surprise Tabitha like that. I’m just thrilled that you two are happy.”
Tabitha and I turn to look at each other at the same time. She offers me a wink, and I swear I blush. Ever since we cleared the air about where we stand, things have felt extremely relaxed between us. It makes me want to tell her more things, to talk them out, resolve them, and feel this kind of contentment and closeness on the other side of it.
I’ve never felt so rewarded by being open with another person.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“How did you two meet again? Landlord, right?” her dad asks as he scoops a serving of black bean chicken onto his plate.
I clear my throat, preparing to continue with my total honesty policy. “Actually, I wasn’t just Erika’s landlord. We were good friends.”
Both their heads snap up, wide eyes on mine. It’s as though in their cloud of grief, they were so happy to see Tabitha ticking marriage off the list they forgot to ask any details about us.
“Really?” Paul clarifies.
“Yeah, I lived next door to her. We got to know each other and became fast friends. She was wonderful, and Milo was the cherry on top.”
Both her parents look shell-shocked by this development.
“Ree’s my babysitter,” Milo oversimplifies, around a mouthful of thick noodles.
I lean close, nudging him. “My man, I don’t babysit you. We just hang out.”
With that, we fist-bump, and he throws his head back in a manic giggle. One that sounds overtired based on what I know of him.
“Best friends forever!” he shouts before going back to shoveling food into his mouth.
When I look up, the table still looks stunned.
“We met when I helped Erika move in, and…” Tabitha looks at me, as though gauging how much she should say. “The rest is history.”
Her mom looks tearful, and so does Paul, but not so much so that he can’t find any words. “That’s a hell of a love story if I’ve ever heard one. I know your last name is Dupris, but I’m sure proud to consider you a son. An honorary Garrison. You’ve got the heart of one.”
Tabitha’s hand lands on my leg, like she justknewthat sentiment would hit me square in the chest. And it does. I swallow and roll my lips together before offering this man a smile.
“You know.” I clear my throat before continuing. “On that note, there’s something I should tell you guys.”
Tabitha shoots me a questioning look, like she’s not sure what I’ll say next. But I’m on a roll now, and I need to get it all off my chest. Telling our friends freed me, and it was an overwhelming relief to no longer keep hidden a huge part of who I am. And I don’t want that hanging over my relationship with Tabitha’s family.
“I know Tabitha and I told you I was a stuntman.” I rub a hand over the back of my neck. “What I do is actually sort of stuntman adjacent?”
Tabitha snorts at that, and I can see her grinning at me from the corner of my eye.
“I’m a professional wrestler, so that’s what keeps me on the road so much.”
Her mom nods and grins, recovered from the last bombshell I dropped. “Well, that explains all the muscles, doesn’t it, Tabby Cat?”
Tabitha slumps back and laughs. “Yeah, Mom. I suppose it does.”
Paul’s brow furrows. “Like on TV?”
I nod.
