AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The call ends, and I continue to stare at the changing colors in the water cascading into the pond at the bottom of the water feature. The sliding door opens, and Chris walks outside. He hands me one of the two mugs of hot chocolate.
“Dylan made this before she left.”
“I’m sorry, did I ruin the evening?”
“No, angel. Not at all. Dylan knew you needed some space. You okay?”
“Am I ever okay after I speak to my parents?”
“What was it this time?”
“My mom had a cancer scare, and she didn’t tell me. She told Belinda, though.”
He drapes an arm around my shoulder and pulls me into the crook of his arm. “I’m sorry.”
I wish I could say it was okay and that I’m used to it, but it isn’t. I feel the tears track down my cheeks. My mother had a cancer scare, and she didn’t even want to tell me.
Chris kisses me on my temple. “It’s okay, angel. It’s going to be okay.”
I sniff. “I feel so stupid crying about this stuff when what happened to you was so much worse.”
Chris leans back and takes me in. “Jess, there’s no comparison here.”
“Sure there is. I’m whining about my parents, and you don’t have yours around anymore.”
“Angel, there’s a big difference between having your parents around and they don’t give a fuck and having no parents. At least mine were present when they were around.”
The tears fall in earnest now.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, did I upset you?”
“No, it’s just nice to know someone gets it.”
I put my mug on the table and lie on Chris’s lap. He strokes my hair, and it feels like the hurt is being erased for a time.
We sit outside in silence for a while. The crickets serenade us with their song. “Did you get your marshmallows?”
“You better believe it.”
I laugh. Such a tough guy who drinks his hot chocolate with marshmallows.
“Can I taste?”
“Trying to get your mind off the call, huh?”
I smile sardonically. “You know me so well.”
Chris leans down and captures my lips with his. For now, I get lost in the moment.
At least I belong here.
