“Sounds great.”
It felt good, knowing that I would face my family tomorrow with Jayce by my side. For the first time in a long time, I felt like it might actually be okay, that we could get in and out in due time and resume our lives without something going so horribly wrong. It felt good. Hopefully it would stay like that.
Jayce and I cuddled in bed and ate pizza and cheese sticks from the box, watching comedy reruns on TV as we huddled under the comforter, wrapped in each other’s arms. It didn’t take long afterwards for me to fall asleep, tucked into the crook of Jayce’s arm. I didn’t wake a single time until morning was upon us.
Chapter 33
Jayce
Islept fairly wellthat night, holding Macey to me like a comfort blanket from home. It was loud in Detroit, just as I expected it would be, and the blaring of horns outside our room window along with the occasional fighting between people on the streets made me feel wary, but these noises only seemed to rock Macey into a deeper sleep. I imagine not only was she used to these noises, but they were a comfort to her, even.
We were up early the next morning, around six, and Macey and I hopped in the shower together, spending the time to enjoy each other’s naked bodies, the small moments we had to ourselves before it would turn into something else, something more important—like a family member’s wedding.
“Are you ready to go meet my parents?” Macey asked, running a comb through her damp and tangled hair. “Bernice’s wedding isn’t until noon, and I figured we could get ready at my parent’s house just so they’re not upset that we never stopped by?”
“I am good with whatever,” I said, pulling her into me for a kiss. “As long as I’m with you.”
Macey smiled, that beautiful, uncertain smile that made me crazy for her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you about them, Jayce. That’s all I ask.”
“And I’ll tell you again what I’ve already told you, Macey,” I said quietly, squeezing her ass. “I don’t care. Nothing your parents can say can convince me that I don’t want to be with you. That’s all there is to it.”
Macey laughed. Not unkindly, but doubtfully. “I’ll remind you that you said that before we go home.”
I could tell she was getting more nervous by the second as we grabbed the things we needed for the wedding and took another Uber a few miles out of the city, towards the suburbs that really weren’t as intimidating as I’d originally expected. The car stopped in front of a cute little house in a quiet neighborhood, but Macey hesitated before getting out, as if silently arguing with herself as to whether or not she should stay and face them or have the driver turn around and bail.
“Hey,” I said softly, squeezing her hand. Macey was staring at the front door of the house as though she’d been sent back into some past reality that she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to see again. “We can do this. You can do this.”
“Yes,” she breathed. “I guess I can.”
I tipped the driver and grabbed our bags, then held Macey’s hand as she slid out of the seat and stepped onto the lawn, her eyes unable to peel themselves away from the house. The car drove away, leaving us standing there, and all I could think of to do was gently urge Macey in the direction of the house, never letting go of her hand. We walked up the steps to the front door and Macey’s free hand came up to knock. It was trembling.
“Here goes nothing,” she muttered, mostly to herself, and then knocked on the door.
It didn’t take long for someone to answer. A moment later, a middle-aged woman who I knew was Macey’s mother at once pulled the door open, looking surprised to find us standing on the steps. After a moment that seemed to go on for far too long, she stepped out and pulled Macey into a hug, one my girlfriend returned with less than enthusiastic excitement.
“Hi, Mom,” she mumbled. I tried to take a step back to let them have their moment, but Macey’s hand held onto mine, squeezing with desperation. “Mom,” she said, escaping the woman’s grip. “This is Jayce. Jayce, this is my mother, Theresa.”
