Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
"She loved the koi pond there. Damon did too. For a while. But he was at that age where he had to prove he was a rebel, and Daph was at that age where she had to chase after him. This time, when we went there, he ran off from the koi pond. When she looked up and saw he was gone, she chased him around the mall. She caught him fast, of course—she's the runner—and she tackled him in front of a jewelry store. He asked if she wanted anything. Earrings, a necklace, a ring, a pendant of a koi fish, but she shook her head and said, no, never. And when he asked, 'what about later, when you get married,' she made the kind of face your mom makes when people ask her about Han and Leia breaking up offscreen in the Star Wars sequels."
He looks to Daphne's mom, who is making a face of pure horror.
"I caught up to them at about that moment and I asked what was so disgusting. Besides her brother, of course."
Everyone laughs.
He continues, "She said, Damon thinks I want to get married. But why would any women want to get married? I want to be free." His voice softens. "I wanted to tell her, 'hey, I get it, kid, and I want that for you, too.' And I wanted to tell her, 'that might change, one day, when you start to like boys. Or girls.' It never did. Until she found someone who would let her be free. If I had to put my bets on a Steele, it would have been Cassie, but I'm glad you found someone more stable. Lyricists are crazy."
Daphne wipes a tear from her eyes.
Her dad holds his glass. "To you and Jackson."
She raises her glass and takes a sip.
I do the same.
Everyone else joins.
Then my dad takes his turn. He tells his own story about my childhood. How, whenever we played board games, I insisted on explaining the rules. And enforcing the rules. They knew, right then, I'd grow up to be a lawyer. They never worried about how I did in school. I always did my assignments on time and got the best grades.
But they worried about me socially. I was too much like my father. I wanted to be in charge too badly. I wanted to play fair, yes, but only by my definition of fair.
Then I got my first girlfriend, and damn, if I didn't try to stay in charge there. I learned a little until she broke up with me for being too difficult. The same thing again and again. I was always too difficult.
But they can tell already it's different now. Because I never would have gotten married because someone else asked. Because I never would have let someone else take the reins.
But I did.
I can.
We toast.
Then Daphne's Mom talks about her medical skills, the curiosity she always had about the body, then sex, and the hope she has that Daphne fills herself personally and professionally.
My mom keeps it short and sweet. "I saw the wedding pictures. Your kids will take after me. If you have them. Whatever the two of you want. I love you, Jackson. And I love you too, Daphne. I'm happy you're officially a part of our family."
We all drink.
We finish another bottle of sparkling cider.
The takeout arrives. Our parents torture us with stories as we eat. We stay at the dining table late, until they're too tired to embarrass us anymore.
When her parents hug me goodbye and say I'm always welcome at their place, I believe it.
And when my parents tell her she's always welcome in their lives, I know it's true.
Because we are family.
Whatever else happens, we're family now, and that means we're family forever.
Finally, we walk our parents to their cars, and we return to the calm, quiet house.
Daphne stretches her arms over her head with a low yawn.
"Too tired?" A teasing tone drops into my voice. I want to be back at that easy place with her already.
She shakes her head. "No, but I need to set up. Where should I put my stuff?"
"Do you want to stay in my room or the spare?" It's a big question, but it feels easy on my lips.
"Can I make the spare my office?" she asks.
"Of course."
She pulls me into a tight hug. "Give me an hour. Then meet me outside, at the pool." She brings her lips to my ears. "Bring condoms and silicon lube. Just in case you break."
Chapter Thirty-Three
Daphne
I've had serious boyfriends before, but I've never lived with a lover. A few guys asked. Sometimes for practical reasons—I slept there half the week anyway, why not save on rent—and sometimes for romantic ones—the guy just wanted to wake up next to me.
As a scientist, I saw the logic. I agreed. Yes, it is smarter to save half the rent. In the short term.