the quietest one of all today. It makes me wonder what she’s thinking. Is she worried about me dating Zack, or moving on too quickly, or dating a rockstar?
I’m not sure, but there’s always something with her and I don’t want her to leave today worried about me.
“Are you okay?” I ask when she walks through the kitchen.
“He seems to make you happy.”
“He does. And he’s been really patient with me. Not pushing too fast, but letting me set the pace.”
“You love him.” It is not a question, but a statement filled with love and acceptance, not concern. It makes me happy that my mom finally got to meet Zack. Even though I’m an only child, my parents had taken Mark in from the moment they met and began treating him like the son they never had. I didn’t realize, until this moment, that I was afraid my parents would be concerned about me moving too fast. Or if they would even like Zack, or his career, or lifestyle, or whatever problem they could find.
“Is it too soon, mom?” Knowing I need someone to tell me, again, it’s okay to be happy again. Will I ever stop needing this reassurance?
“Do you think it’s too soon?” Her question instead of an answer surprises me. Instead of answering, I look over at Zack, Mia and my dad. They’re laughing at a story Sammy is sharing while Zack argues with her. Sammy is jumping around laughing, using large arm motions to explain whatever she’s saying, while Zack shakes his head in defiance. At some point, he catches my eye and smiles. I return his smile and have a quick rush of thoughts and memories we’ve already shared in the short time we’ve known each other. Football games, pool nights, talking late into the night on the bus while the other guys went out, watching him sing his concerts, the way he holds me and how he comforted me when I told him about Mark and Andrew. I think of how I felt when I saw him standing in my building’s lobby, looking so worried I would turn him away again, and how his presence gave me strength at the cemetery.
We fit together, and even though our relationship started suddenly, and when I wasn’t sure I wanted one, it was perfect timing.
I turn to my mom and smile. “No, I don’t think so.”
She simply squeezes my hand with tear-filled eyes. “You have, unfortunately, learned a very hard lesson that in this life that there are no guarantees. Your dad and I love you, and we are here to support you in whatever decisions you make. And if loving Zack makes you happy, then we will love him right along with you. And all you need to do is enjoy the ride.”
“Thanks, mom.” I kiss her cheek and hold her hand as we walk back outside.
“Enjoying your Thanksgiving?” Zack asks when I sit down next to him. He grabs my hand immediately and pulls me onto his lap. I squeal in surprise and blush as I look around the table with our parents sitting around us. My dad just winks at me, and goes back to listening to Sammy talk about her job at the accounting firm. I still can’t picture this hyper recent college graduate as a number pusher, but she seems to love it.
“It’s the best – just perfect. Thank you so much for this. I feel so lucky right now.”
“I’m the lucky one, Nic. I never knew what love was until you walked into my life.”
Chapter Seventeen
“You HUSTLED us!?” Chase’s shouts rival some of the tantrums Andrew threw when he was a toddler. Chase and Jake showed up earlier in the night to spend the weekend for the awards show.
Mia and I had – as usual – let the guys win the first game of pool we challenged Chase and Jake to by saying losers would make breakfast. Instantly Chase and Jake got a hungry look on their faces assuming it’d be an easy win. They spent the entire first game cockily planning out the next morning’s menu. It grew larger and larger with every shot they made. But then we came back and won the next game. After I made two balls in on the break in the second game, Mia ran the rest of the table on her turn.
The girl is amazing at pool. Chase declares it complete luck, while Zack watches off to the side, laughing the entire time.