Page 97 of Lucky 22

“I am. It’s a matter of playing the long game, you know?Like, so much has to happen before it even gets announced.”

“But you can still take other roles in the meantime, right?”

“Absolutely. I just have to make sure it doesn’t interferewith recording.”

“And you’ll be recording here in LA?”

I nod around another forkful of food.

She studies me for a moment. “And how does Christian feelabout that?”

I keep zero secrets from Jen.

Okay, maybe not zero, but I tell her more than I telleveryone except my mom.

“I don’t think he has a problem with my being here.Especially since it’s for such a major project.”

“But…?”

“But,” I begin with a sigh, “our biggest issue right now iswhether he’ll come to visit me here or I’ll fly back to Florida.”

“I figured you’d divvy it up. You know, sometimes he comeshere, and sometimes you go there.”

I tell her about my interactions with his dad.

“Are you kidding me? Still? What is that man’s problem?You’ve been nothing but an awesome wife to his son, and I’m sure you’re likethe best daughter-in-law in the world.”

I relax a little at her praise. “Thank you, you’re verykind. Let’s just say that positive reinforcement really isn’t his thing.” Ishake my head. “It’s tolerable when we go and visit for a long weekend orsomething, but living in the same house is starting to be a real issue for me.”

“So, why doesn’t Christian tell his father to ease up?”

“He keeps telling me it’s the way his dad is, that he won’tchange. But it makes it incredibly difficult to relax and have fun when I feellike I’m constantly being judged.”

“Ugh, I wouldn’t want to live that way either.” Then shepauses. “But I can’t see Christian being the only one traveling. You guys havealways been very fair about that sort of thing whenever possible.”

She’s right.

But we’ve never had to deal with a situation like thisbefore.

Finally, I nod. “I know. I just…” Shaking my head, I takeanother bite of my dinner instead of finishing the thought.

Jen shifts on her end of the sofa and gives me a veryknowing look. “You know you have to say whatever you were going to say. Youcan’t leave it like that, so…out with it.”

“Fine. I feel so unsettled. I don’t know, I guess I thoughtwe’d be able to ground ourselves a little bit after we got married. I thoughtwe’d start to build our life together. But here we are, still traveling likecrazy, living out of suitcases, and we’re newlyweds living with his parents.This is not at all how I imagined our happily ever after would start.” I stopbecause all of this venting feels wrong. “Christian is the most amazinghusband, and I’m so grateful for him and the life we have together. It’s justnot very conventional. At all.”

“Ella, you can’t keep things bottled up. I know you. I’velived with you. You are passionate about everything. The good and the bad. Whenyou’re happy, you light up like the sun. And when you’re mad, you get feistyand a little snippy. It’s awesome. And when you’re sad, it breaks my heart.”

Jen knows me so well.

“You are like a sponge. You hold it all in, but at somepoint, you have to wring out your sponge. Have a conversation with Christian.He’s a very reasonable guy, and he will understand where you are coming from.”

“Jen…”

“You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. Andyes, we all know Christian loves you, but he needs to step out of his comfortzone, too. Lord knows you have for him.”

“I don’t know if I’d say that.”

She stares at me.