‘Are you serious?’he asks.
‘Yeah.It was traumatising.’
‘I’m so sorry that happened to you.I swear, you grow up looking up to your parents, thinking they’re so perfect.It’s devastating realising they’re flawed just like everyone else.What a shit thing to say.I’m starting to realise now why you’re not very close to him.’
‘Yeah,’ I say quietly.‘I’m back at it now and loving it though, so that’s the main thing.’
‘Exactly,’ he agrees.‘Do you visit home much?’
‘I visit Mum when I can, but she’s a few hours away.I’ll go if I have a long weekend and no assignments due or on semester break.We call a lot though.Mum and I are close.’
‘That’s nice.I was under the impression you didn’t get along with your family.’
‘One side I’m very close to, the other not so much,’ I explain.‘My parents have been separated my whole life.My dad has an entire new life with new people.I don’t fit in with them.’
‘How so?’he questions.
‘They make me feel inadequate.Like I’m a disappointment and no matter what I do, it’s never enough.’
‘That’s shitty.I’m sorry.’
‘I don’t want to feel like an outsider in my own family, but it’s not exactly in my control.They speak down to me constantly and make truly terrible comments right to my face.’
‘What?’he exclaims, his brows almost disappearing into his hairline.
‘You’ll see what I mean when you meet them.’
‘Well, you’ll have me there at your next family event.Hopefully that will make things a little more bearable.’
‘It will, for sure,’ I say earnestly.Although the comments they’ll make about him will upset me, having someone there to make me feel less alone is going to be a good thing.Especially someone like Zayden.I don’t think he’ll be scared off too easily, and I like that I don’t have to hide or pretend around him.
‘When’s the wedding?’he asks.
‘In two months.’
‘Cool.Plenty of time for me to find an outfit then.What are you wearing?’
‘I have no clue yet.Also, I’ll be buying your outfit.I don’t want you to be out of pocket for anything since you’re doing me a favour by coming.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I’m not.’
‘You are.’
‘I’m not.Besides, you’ll have to match me, so I have to pick out all the colours anyway.Trust me, you’ll look great.’
‘I always look great,’ he winks.
‘Agreed,’ I say, the word leaving my mouth without any prior thought going into it.
‘Oh?’he asks, his face lighting up.‘You think I always look great?’
‘More than great, actually.’
He leans over, his eyes connecting with mine and I stare at him, counting the freckles dusting across his cheeks.He searches my gaze for a moment before lightly kissing me.Tingles shoot down my spine at the touch.
‘I think you look more than great, too.’
