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"That would explain a few things."
"See? In a way, you were right there next to me. You just didn't know why."
"I want to know the why and the when. I'm much better at taking care of you if I have all the information."
She laughed and relaxed for the first time since I'd started the goddamn fight. "Really? Because you've been pretty excellent until now."
I pulled her even closer, kissing up her neck. "There's always room for improvement, Reese. And I’m making you another promise. From now on, you're only going to get the very best version of me."
"See, no, I don't like that. This is a two-way street. We have to share all of our moments, the good and the bad, for this to work. Do you promise?" she asked.
I nodded but didn't say anything. For the first time, I realized why she'd tried to keep me out of it. She wasn't used to sharing this with a partner, just like I wasn't. I’d taken vows that included "for better or for worse," but Kelly never showed up during the worst parts. And yet Reese wanted to do just that.
I felt even closer to her than before, as if we'd just created an invisible tie that bound us together. It was a strange feeling, but at the same time, it was exhilarating.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dom
"Dad, your game is off," I teased. Our regular chess match was being interrupted by the Bears game.
"And yours is even worse. Anyway, multitasking isn't my strong suit now in my old age, but I think we can turn off the Bears. They're going to lose, and I don't need to see that."
I turned off the TV. That had always been Dad's credo: he supported the Bears but didn't need to waste his time watching when they were losing.
"Now, Dad, about Thanksgiving..."
He looked up, freezing in the act of moving his pawn. "Is this when you tell me you're going to make plans with a woman worth your time and ditch my old ass?"
I frowned. "No, I was going to ask if you want us to start dinner earlier than usual."
He looked at the board. "That woman you went to the lake house a few weeks ago is still around?"
I stared at him. "How do you even know about that?"
"You told Dora. You don't think she keeps secret from me, do you?" He tsked. "Son, you've got a thing or two to learn. She tells me everything."
"Got it.”
"So, she's still around?"
"Yes," I said without getting into details. Reese and I had been spending a lot of time together since then.
"Good. I want to meet her."
I hadn't counted on this. I was sure Reese had her own thing going on for Thanksgiving, so it hadn't even crossed my mind to ask her to spend it with us.
"You want to have Reese here for Thanksgiving?" I double-checked.
"Yes, I want to meet the woman who's got my son so wrapped around her little finger that he's losing the game even when half my mind was on the Bears. It's a good omen. When I first met your mother, I forgot when meetings were supposed to start or what they were about. Let me tell you, my work colleagues were up in arms."
I had never, not once, heard my father talk about my mother since she passed away.
"Tell me about her," he insisted.
I spoke about Reese while we finished the game. My mind was racing. I wasn't a genius, but I was 100 percent certain she already had plans with her family. We hadn’t been going out for a long time, but instinctively, I knew she would fit in here with us. So I came up with a plan, but I was only going to put it in motion after I left Dad’s house.
He beat me, of course, but I was enjoying watching him win. He was in an excellent mood afterward. We had an early dinner with Dora, and I only left after they started on his evening routine.
