Not My Hero

Chapter 28BrieDear me,

It’s Thanksgiving. I’ve never celebrated it before.

Colton said he’s going to show me how to make the perfect turkey. I’ll probably end up burning it to a crisp, lol.

This year, I have so much to be thankful for. Colton. Mom. Our lives together. Every day is filled with more love than I could ever imagine experiencing.

It’s been just over two months since I moved in with them, and so much has changed. Day’s will pass without me thinking about my life before Colton, and even then, it will feel like a bad dream that’s fading in and out of my memory.

Yeah, I’m probably suppressing it all. Still, I think, after everything I went through, I deserve to be happy without the constant reminder of what happened. That’s the choice I made. To just forget. I want to forget all my memories before Colton, so I can fill the space with new happy ones.

Memories of loving Colton and Mom, and of them loving me.

B.Mom arranged for a photographer to take a family portrait of the three of us last week, and we’re supervising while Colton positions the framed picture against the wall in the living room.

“A little to the left,” Mom says.

Colton shifts it, and the corner of my mouth twitches when the right side moves up a little.

Mom lets out a chuckle, “An inch down on the right side.”

We’ve been doing this for ten minutes now, and I’m starting to feel sorry for my boyfriend. Walking closer, I help him nudge it up while saying, “Keep the left side like that.”

We move it, and Colton let’s out a breath of relief, then turning to Mom, he says, “You did that on purpose, right?”

Mom gets an innocent expression on her face while shaking her head. “Who? Me? Never.” She lets out a burst of laughter, then teases, “Brie was enjoying watching your butt, and who was I to keep her from enjoying the view.”

“I wasn’t watching his butt,” I laugh.

Mom walks to the kitchen. “Sweetie, you were a second away from drooling.”

Colton wags his eyebrows at me and slips his arm around my waist. “Yeah? Did you like the view?”

Giving up, I ask, “Can you blame me?” I let out a dreamy sigh, knowing Mom will get a kick out of it.

I live for moments like this. We’re carefree and always laughing. Everything is fun.

“Food,” Colton says as he rubs his hands together.

We move to the kitchen, and Colton begins to prep the turkey while Mom turns on the oven so it can warm up. I take my spot by the potatoes and begin to peel them.

After a couple of minutes of work, Mom says, “Want to watch Christmas movies tonight?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little early? You know it’s Thanksgiving today,” Colton teases her.

“Then why do they have them on Netflix already?” I ask.

“Exactly,” Mom exclaims. “Thanks for backing me, Brie.”

“Yup,” Colton mutters, “I’ll always be out voted when it comes to the two of you.”

Mom nudges her shoulder playfully against his. “Aww, you still love us.”

The corners of his mouth begin to lift, then he admits, “Yeah, you both have me wrapped around your little fingers.”

Wrapping my arm around his lower back, I give him a sideways hug. “We love you too.”

When the turkey is roasting in the oven, and there isn’t anything else to do, we make ourselves comfortable on the couches.

Colton grabs the remote before Mom can get to it, then says, “If we’re watching Christmas movies, we’re starting with The Grinch.”

“Okay,” Mom agrees while shifting into a comfortable position.

“Then Jack Frost,” Colton continues.

Mom let’s out a burst of laughter. “We can watch whatever you want as long as it’s about Christmas.”

“Score,” Colton chuckles as he presses play.

I haven’t watched The Grinch, and even though the message is profound, I crack up laughing a couple of times.COLTONI carve the turkey, then carry it to the table, saying. “You know we have enough food to feed an army.”

“That’s the idea,” Mom replies. “This better last through to Sunday.”

“Yummy.” The word bubbles from Brie as she places a big scooping of mashed potatoes on her plate. “Can you pass the gravy?”

I let out a soundless chuckle as I pass it to her and watch as she smothers the mashed potatoes with it.

We all load our plates to the max, then Mom says, “Colton, would you like to start?”

“Sure.” I clear my throat as we all take hands. “I’m thankful for my family,” I glance between Mom and Brie, “old and new.” Keeping my eyes on Brie, I continue, “I’m thankful for the miracle that brought you to us.” Her smile widens at my words. “I’m most thankful you gave me a chance.” Then I turn my gaze to Mom. “I’m thankful for the best mother in the world.”