Especially since I sort of want to tell his mom off, which isn’t a good way to handle the family-intro business.
So instead I’m pacing the length of my kitchen, trying to figure out how the hell I’m supposed to deal with this. My group chat with Stevie, Vi, and Lainey is blowing up. They’re appropriately outraged right along with me, which is validating.
A knock on the door startles me. A bubble of hope forms in my chest but then pops just as quickly when my dad lets himself in.
“Oh, hey.”
He frowns, taking in the pile of used tissues and me. “I didn’t expect you to be here tonight.”
“Me either.” I toss my phone on the counter and cross over to my fridge, pulling out a couple of beers.
“What happened? Why aren’t you with Kingston?”
I twist off the caps and hand him a beer. “He’s with his ex-girlfriend, because his mother brought her along.”
“Wait. What? His momster or his mom brought her?”
“His mom, not momster.” If it had been Hanna, I’d be a lot more upset, I think.
My dad sets the beer on the counter, obviously confused. “Why the hell would she do that? Why would Kingston let her?”
“Kingston didn’t know she was coming. She was supposed to be a surprise.” I rub the space between my eyes. “I didn’t think a family introduction with his ex-girlfriend there was in my best interest, or anyone’s, really, so I came home, and he’s dealing with the situation.”
“Dealing with it how?”
“Likely in his very diplomatic way.” I glance at the clock. I’ve been home for forty-five minutes. That’s a considerable amount of time to stew. And contemplate whether I made the right choice in coming home instead of standing up for King and myself and our relationship.
“Shit.” I slam my full bottle on the counter, making it foam like a volcano.
“What?”
“I did it again.”
“Did what again?” My dad’s brow is furrowed, and he’s clearly confused again, since I’m speaking out loud but explaining nothing.
I prop my fists on the counter and shake my head, annoyed not just with Kingston’s mom but with myself now. “I ran away from the goddamn problem instead of facing it.”
“You mean by coming home?”
I slap the counter, barely missing my beer. “Yes. I should have stuck it out and stood my damn ground.”
“Well, in your defense, you’ve had a pretty rough day, let alone week. It’s kind of understandable that you might need some time to gather yourself.”
“The awkward level is pretty freaking high,” I agree. “But I managed to get through dealing with Corey and his loon of a fiancée and a bunch of media BS, so I sure as hell should’ve been able to deal with an ex-girlfriend and some misinformed parents, regardless of the level of awkward. I mean, I can’t expect Kingston to fight for us if I’m not going to, can I? Well, I guess I could, but where’s the balance in that?” I grab my purse and phone and kiss my dad on the cheek. “Thanks so much for the talk, Dad.”
“Uh, you’re welcome?”
Just as I throw the door open, a set of headlights blinds me.
My dad brushes by me, squeezing my shoulder on the way out. “That’s my cue to leave.”
He claps Kingston on the shoulder and mutters something I can’t hear as they pass each other in the driveway.
“Hey.” He notes my purse hooked over my shoulder and my phone in my hand. “Are you going somewhere?”
“I was going to your place.” I take a step back and allow him inside.
“My place?” He hooks his thumbs into his pockets, as if he’s unsure what to do now that he’s here.
I lift a shoulder in a half shrug and motion to my living room. “I can’t fight for what I want from here.”
He moves in closer until he breaches my personal-space bubble. I can smell his cologne, the faint hint of shoe polish and leather, feel the hum of energy that’s always present between us. “You don’t have to fight for anything. I’m yours unless you tell me otherwise.”
“And I’m yours.” I trace the collar of his polo. “I figured the best way to prove that would be to stand by your side no matter what. So I decided not to wait and just go to you instead, but now here you are.”
“Here I am.” He smiles softly and skims my cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry about my mother’s meddling. She misinterpreted our conversation last week and had it in her head that you and I were broken up, hence the surprise.”
“Well, it certainly was that.”
“This wasn’t how I wanted tonight to go, at all.”
“Me either. Gotta say, makes meeting the parents a little more awkward.”
“I promise I’ve taken care of that. Jessica’s already on a plane home, and there won’t be any more misunderstandings where she’s concerned. She’s very clear on the fact that we’re not right for each other.” He runs his palms down my arms and takes my hands in his. “The only person who thought it was a good idea to bring Jessica was my mother, because half the time her head is up her butt. And my brother, Gerald, loves that there was some family drama that finally wasn’t focused on him for a change.” He brings my knuckles to his lips and kisses them. “I hated seeing you upset tonight and not being able to fix it.”