Nana slips quietly into the house, leaving us alone to stew in the strain.
I’m the one who did this, so it’s up to me to mend it. I stand and turn around, wrapping my arms around my waist as I stare at my forlorn-looking boyfriend. “I’m so sorry, Garrick. I didn’t mean to hurt you, and I hate that I did. Your gift was thoughtful and beautiful, and I was insensitive. My timing sucked.”
He moves closer. “I’m sorry too. I promised I wouldn’t pressure you and I keep fucking up.”
“I love you so much,” I whisper with tears in my eyes, closing the gap between us and leaning against him. “But I worry we want different things.”
His arms encircle my waist as he hugs me close. “We want the same things, just at different times and in different ways.” He rests his chin on top of my head. “I never want you to feel like you need to apologize for speaking your mind. I always want to know what you’re thinking even if what you’re thinking might hurt me. It’s better than being lied to.”
“I didn’t mean to ruin Christmas.”
“What are you talking about?” He tilts my chin up with one finger. My heart does a little dance when his golden-brown eyes latch on to mine. Those rich amber flecks sparkle as his eyes crinkle with a smile. Beautiful dimples I dream about come out to play, and I melt against him, hating all the cross words and silence between us today.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” he continues. “I have always said everything is right in my world as long as you are by my side, and that was true today. We might have been distant and upset with one another, but we still spent the day together. You are mine, and I am yours. That hasn’t changed.” He smooths his hand down my hair. “Our love will endure the challenges, and we’ll come out stronger on the other side.”
“There he is, my lyrical poet.” Stretching up, I press my mouth to his. Our lips linger, gliding gently together in tender kisses that transmit all the unspoken words behind the potent emotion charging the air.
Garrick kisses me softly and lovingly, and my heart equally rejoices and melts.
I don’t know what the future holds for us, but in this moment, he is all that I want and all that I need.
“I’m starting a new tradition,” he purrs in my ear before pulling back, treating me to another glimpse of those dashing dimples. “Dance with me, sunshine?” he asks, extending his hand.
“I would love to.” I place my hand firmly in his, smiling and full of his love as he leads me into the kitchen where he proceeds to spin me around the floor to The Carpenters with our families whoops and hollers ringing in our ears.
* * *
We return to campus in January, after a lazy Christmas break, with a greater understanding of where we stand as a couple. We love one another, and we’re committed to making it work. I just hope that’s enough.
The months race by in a whirlwind of classes, study, work, and nights spent huddled under the sheets in my bedroom, enjoying one another in a way that never ends in an argument. On Saturdays, the crew and I show up to Garrick’s gig to support him, and I do my best to ignore the women who throw themselves at my boyfriend any chance they get. I know he has no interest in them, and I trust him, but it’s annoying they act like such hobags when they know he has a steady girlfriend.
Sunday nights are date night, and we grab dinner out, or catch a movie, or I cook at home, and we make love for hours.
Thankfully, his friendship with Pepper is virtually nonexistent now, so that’s one less complication to worry about.
Garrick is still giving his mother the cold shoulder, and he shows no sign of changing his tune. Especially after I played him the nasty drunken messages she left on my phone recently. Garrick refuses to speak to her, so he got his dad to talk to Ivy. Hugh made it clear her harassment had to stop. He was highly embarrassed telling us the things she accused me of. Dawn made a point of pulling me aside afterward to confirm how much she and Hugh adore me and love the relationship I have with their son. They have stated repeatedly they know our love is real and I’m not the gold digger Ivy is trying to paint me to be.
Is it wrong to want to make a voodoo doll in my boyfriend’s mother’s likeness so I can stick pins in her eyes any time she pisses me off? Because I have seriously considered it. I even went as far as googling how I could get a custom doll made and fell down a tempting rabbit hole of witchcraft and spells.
* * *
Spring break comes and goes. We forgo a Cabo trip with Will and Ellen, and Noah and his new girlfriend, to return to our cabin in Seattle. Our days are spent hiking, biking, kayaking, and walking the grounds of the winery. Nights are spent with family, or enjoying a romantic meal at the outdoor restaurant, or cooking together.
It’s a nice sojourn before we return to UO for our last few months together at college.
In April, I surprise Garrick with a night away in a five-star hotel in Seattle for his twenty-first birthday and a couples boudoir photography shoot. The night after, we attend a party at the winery, organized by his dad, for family and close friends. It is a great weekend, and we are storing plenty of entries in the memory bank.
However, as the weeks close in, and exam stress piles on, we are arguing more and more, and I’m feeling the strain.
ChapterThirty-Four
Stevie
Ellen and I grab the opportunity for a girl’s spa day, one Sunday in May, a few weeks before exams start. The guys have gone to Sutherlin to hike the North Umpqua Trail. It’s an organized event to raise money for a local kid with leukemia. Will’s family knows the little girl, so he is keen to support the fundraiser, and he roped the guys in.
“Will is going to move in with me for senior year,” Ellen explains as we’re seated side by side in matching leather recliners getting pedicures.
“I’m glad you got the lease again and you’re able to stay there over the summer. At least you won’t have to pack up all your shit this time.”
