AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The chat fills up with congratulations. I send mine, then scroll back to the picture, smiling. I’m insanely happy for them. I love having this group of friends, and more than I knew I could, I love cheering them on, seeing their happiness. It brings me joy.
Miles sets his phone aside and looks down at me, doing that sexy smolder thing before capturing my lips again. This kiss is more possessive than the last, telling me without words that it’ll be us one day.
I kiss him back just as forcefully, hopefully letting him know that doesn’t scare me anymore. It’s part of a future I’m excited to have with him.
Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. Probably because it’s all about good food and celebrating with family and friends. My circle was never big, even before my grandparents and my dad died. After my dad was gone, my mom and I didn’t celebrate it. We were in other countries while we traveled, and no one across the world gave a shit about US Thanksgiving. I didn’t start “celebrating” it again until my mother was in the nursing home and I wanted to be present for her at the holidays.
I’m wholly unprepared for today. And I’m starting to think this whole thing was a bad idea. This isn’t just my Thanksgiving—a day I hold little emotional attachment to—to ruin. It’s the whole Hyun-Hansen family’s to ruin now. And those people—Katie especially—love Thanksgiving.
Not to mention that every time I come here since her stroke, I’m extra aware that it could be my last visit with her. This could be my last holiday with her. That sits like a rock in my stomach.
No. That’s not right. A rock is hard and unmoving. This is a tornado. Rattling the gates and tearing at the walls.
I suck in a breath as we board the elevator, my shoulders tense. Miles stands next to me but doesn’t reach for my hand, a surefire sign he senses something is wrong since he’s usually very handsy with me. Which I also usually like.
It’s fine. I’m fine. I will not be the one to ruin today.
As the elevator dings and the doors open, we step off, and I start down the hall, but Miles catches my hand, spinning me back to him.
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, he just stares at me.
“Are you okay?”
There it is.
“I’m fine.” I answer instantly. Because I want to be fine. I want today to be fine. No, I want today to be good.
I squeeze his hand, then spin around and continue down the hallway.
You’re shutting him out, a little voice inside me says. Even though I want to argue, I can’t.
I stop and spin back around, reaching for his hand. He moves to me and takes it, looking into my eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m nervous.” I step closer and wrap my arms around him, and instantly I’m safe in his strong embrace. This is much better than shutting down.
“Why are you nervous?”
“Because your whole family is coming, and I’m starting to think that’s a bad idea. What if my mom is having a bad day? What if she doesn’t understand or she’s mean? I don’t want to ruin your family’s Thanksgiving. Your sisters have never even met my mother. Maybe I should go in alone and spend some time with her. You can go back with your family, and I’ll come over after.”
I bite my lip and look down, feeling ridiculous as I spill my fears.
“Ames.”
My eyes stay on the wall.
“Babe, look at me.” He rests his hand on my cheek, pushing until my eyes are back on his. “I told you; you are my family. This is where I want to be. It’s where our family wants to be too. Because they are our family. Not just mine. And you know that. My mom knew what she was getting into, and so did my dad. My sisters may be sassy, but they have a lot of respect for you. No matter how today goes, it’s our first Thanksgiving as a big, complicated family. We’re spending it together.”
I stare at him for a moment, taking in his words. He’s right. I know he is. This is just another thing I’m still learning how to do. I let out a sigh of relief, then smile up at him. “You’re very bossy.”
He leans in close and whispers, “Just wait till we’re alone later.” He winks at me. “It’s all going to be okay, as long as we’re together. Deal?”
“Deal.”
He kisses my cheek, then takes a half step back, wrapping his hand around mine again as we walk toward my mother’s unit.
The entire unit is adorned with Thanksgiving decorations, from paper turkeys, to cornucopias, to tons of brightly colored fabric leaves.
“I love this,” Miles says, looking around, and despite how I felt in the hall two minutes ago, I’m smiling. Miles comes off as an alpha type. Tall, strong, confident, protective, and a little growly. On the inside though? The man is a marshmallow who worships me, loves his mom, and finds joy in little things like Thanksgiving decorations.
