Page 27 of Ever After

“I’ve been off work for two weeks. I have a lot to catch up on.”

“That’s going to be me next week.”

Jay squeezes my knee and raises his head from my shoulder. “Let’s keep looking or I’m going to fall asleep.”

We both get up and start looking around all the coffee tables they have in between the couches. I spot a light brown one and point over to it.

“This one looks like it would match with your couch.”

“Okay, I trust you, let’s get it,” he says.

“You’ve been agreeing with everything I pick out. You don’t have to.”

I sit down on one of the couches facing the coffee table making sure it will look good. Jay comes and sits next to me and says, “I really do like it. Have you done this before? You’re really good at it.”

“I have a few times. Haven’t you? Since you’ve had your own place before and I’m assuming you lived with Lindsee?”

“When I first moved out on my own I was too poor to afford anything. I mostly got hand me downs. When me and Lindsee moved in together she bought everything.”

“She bought everything without you? She didn’t even check to see if you liked it first?”

“Pretty much,” he says and gets up from the couch. He reaches for my hand and lifts me up from the couch. “Let's go look at their patio sets.”

We start walking over to the patio furniture, and I hear someone yell Jay’s name. An older couple starts walking over to us, and Jay suddenly stops when he registers his name being called. His body jerks back as if he got shocked. By the looks of him, he looks stunned to see them. Who is this couple that is making him act like this? He hasn’t let go of me, which tells me maybe it doesn’t bother him to be seen holding my hand.

“Hi, how are you guys?” Jay asks the couple as they approach us. They are now both standing in front of us with confused looks on their faces. I debate whether or not I should introduce myself or not.

“Hi,” I say.

“We’re good,” the older lady says to Jay before turning toward me. “Hello. I’m Karen and this is my husband, Mike.” She reaches out and shakes my hand.

“This is Lilah,” Jays says.

“Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Jay, could we talk to you in private?” Karen says.

My eyes are roaming between all three of them, confused by what is going on.

“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Lilah.” Silence rolls through her, like she’s never been told no before.

“Honey let’s leave them alone,” Mike says, grabbing his wife’s hand and trying to get her to leave. She rips her hand out of his, staring at us.

“Jay, Lindsee misses you very much. There is still a chance for you two if you forgive her and move on from it all. I know she created a mess, but everyone deserves a second chance. You two were so good together.” She looks at me and smiles. A smile that is more of a no-offense smile.

My face falls. I’m dumbfounded by these people. Do they even know what she did? Jay looks as dumbfounded as me when I see his face. Mike standing there, shaking his head, embarrassed by his wife.

“Karen, Mike, with all due respect, your daughter is a whore. You can’t turn a whore into a housewife. I’m looking for someone I can settle down with one day and start a family of my own with. It would be a shame for me to stoop that low and give her a second chance. Some people don’t deserve second chances, and your daughter is one of them.”

Daughter? What the fuck. These are Lindsee’s parents.

A loud gasp comes from Karen, like that’s the worst thing she has ever heard. But Damn Jay sure told her. That response even surprised me.

“Lilah and I have more shopping to do. Have a great day.” Jay leads me away, his hand in mine, as we both smile.

* * *

We’re beat by the time we’re done shopping. On the way home, we grabbed some Chinese food. We were too tired to go to a restaurant so we’re both settled on the floor to eat and watch a movie.

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