She’s going to need it.
We both are.
She stands, smoothing her dress. Her hair is straight and sleek, the opposite of the wild mess it was this morning.
Her brows pinch together. “Whiskey?”
“It’s just one shot, babe. Here.”
I hold it out, and she grabs it, tossing it back like a champ. She blinks a few times before setting the glass on the counter with a sharp gasp.
“Alright,” she says. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
I pick up the empty glass, slide it into the dishwasher, and follow her to the elevator.
She fidgets the entire ride down.
“Did you read the notes I sent you?” she asks.
“I read them.”
Yep. She made notes. In a Word document. Then emailed them to me.
What to say if they ask this. What not to say if they ask that. The story of how we got back together. The timeline,after Richard,of course. The wedding. How she moved inafterwe got married.
God forbid they know their thirty-five-year-old granddaughter is having sex before marriage.
Jesus Christ.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Jordan’s grandmother has never liked me. Her mother tolerates me. And her grandfather’s nice to me, for Jordan’s sake. The man’s a saint. Anyone who’s put up with her yiayiá that long deserves a fucking medal.
The elevator opens on the ground floor, and I reach for Jordan’s hand, holding it tight as we step out.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
She’s not.
Pete pulls up to the curb, and I open the back door for her. She slides in, and I circle the car, settling beside her. I take her hand immediately.
Jesus.
She’s shaking.
“Hey,” I say quietly, keeping my voice calm. “I’m right here. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
She drags in a breath, then lets it out slow. “I know. God, I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
I do.
“I see my yiayiá and mamá almost every week. We have dinner all the time.” She pats the top of her hair, smoothing it, then lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I’m being ridiculous.”
I lift her hand and press a kiss to her thumb. “You’re not ridiculous. Your yiayiá is terrifying.”
“I know.” She exhales. “How does she do that? She’s so tiny, but holy shit, she scares me.”
