Page 2 of Thankful For November

“Fine. Yes. I’ll marry you,” I reply. This will either be the worst thing or the best thing ever happening to me—no in-between.

“Good girl,” he says, grinning at me. Then he begins to pound into me. I thought he’d pull out or something, but instead, he comes inside of me. I’m not on birth control—I’ve never needed it. I feel his hot release branding my insides. Why do I love that so much? Over and over, he commands my body in ways I didn’t think was possible. I didn’t think anything like this was possible. You can’t fall in love in two hours, can you? I didn’t think it was possible, but it has to be.

All night long, he takes me to newfound heights of pleasure until I fall asleep. When my alarm goes off on my phone at six-thirty, it wakes me from the most delicious dream I’ve ever had. My eyes pop open; the sun is shining into the room. Lincoln is still lying beside me, with his arm draped over his eyes.

“Where are you going so early?” he groans.

“Ugh, I have political science at eight.” I don’t want to go, but I know that I will.

“I’ll get dressed and we’ll get breakfast before I drop you off at campus.”

“I can just get a ride share.”

“Not happening. I brought you here, and I’ll take you back. Speaking of, I’ll be picking you up after your last class.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“If you think I can sleep alone after last night, you’re sadly mistaken, my love.”

“Your love?”

“You know I love you. I must have told you a hundred times last night.”

“I didn’t think you meant it.”

“That’s the thing about me, baby. I don’t say things I don’t mean. Now get dressed, you need to eat before your first day.”

“Fine,” I say, leaning over and kissing him.

Lincoln Hughes was unexpected. He is larger than life, and he’s shown me things I never thought I’d see in only six weeks. Now he’s asked me to be his wife, and what else could I do but say yes…

CHAPTER 1

NOVEMBER

TWELVE WEEKS LATER

Why didI agree to this dinner? What alternate universe was I operating in that somehow I thought this would be a good idea? I mean yes, the bride and groom's families are supposed to dine together, plan the wedding together, and even talk to each other. That’s all normal shit. Right? But in our case, our relationship was so whirlwind, given that we dated for only six weeks before we got engaged, that this is the first time this has happened. This is too much for one woman to handle. Right? I shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of verbal abuse. I wish I were a stronger person; I really do. People always walk all over me, and I don’t know how to make it stop.

I try to focus on the conversation at the dinner table, desperate for it to distract me from my inner turmoil. But all I hear are the clinking of silverware against plates, the murmur of polite small talk, and the occasional burst of uncomfortable laughter. My soon-to-be mother-in-law keeps asking me questions about my family despite them being right across the table from her. My job, and how I'll fit into their close-knit clan.I smile and answer politely, trying my best to seem at ease. I am anything but.

But inside, I'm screaming. What do I know about fitting into their family? Do I even want to fit in with these people? They are beyond awful. I’m trying not to judge them, but they are[ give me so many reasons to. As much as I love my fiancé, I am certain that I hate his family. I'm still getting used to the idea of being engaged, and yet here I am, expected to be the well-adjusted and well-connected bride-to-be. Newsflash: I’m not. I’m a freshman in college trying to figure out how to not be the lawyer my mom wants me to be. So far, I’ve had no luck with that.

I sneak a glance at Lincoln, seated beside me, effortlessly charming and at ease. How does he do it? How does he come from this seemingly perfect family and be so at ease with everything? I know he loves me, but can he truly understand my turmoil? The doubt, the fear, the overwhelming sense of being out of my depth?

This is the first time both of our families have gotten together like this, and I hate it. The restaurant my future mother-in-law selected is stuffy and different from what my family would have selected. The food is… too fancy and somehow slimy and gross. It’s oxymoronic.

This was the first time both of our families had gotten together in one place, and I freaking hate it. The restaurant my future mother-in-law has chosen is stuffy and pretentious, unlike anything my family would have ever considered. We are just normal people, everyday kind of folks. We don’t eat at fancy places like this.

My dad, Henry, is a CPA, and my mom, Lian, is first generation Chinese-American. She runs a chain of very successful dry cleaners in Wilmington with my grandparents, a fact that never failed to impress my extended family. I had always known that I was conceived through IVF and a spermdonor, but my grandparents don’t know that. My parents never needed to tell them, especially since they were already disappointed that my dad wasn't a doctor like most parents would want their only daughter to marry. This is neither here nor there, though, because I don’t know my bio dad and Lincoln, and I want to start a family; I sent in my DNA to be tested. I want to know if anything can be passed on to our babies that I am unaware of. It’ll be a few weeks until the results come in.

His mom, Clarice, is taking over our wedding plans with the help of Karen, an impossibly tall and beautiful wedding planner she had brought along. On the other hand, his father, also named Lincoln, is reserved and quiet. He rarely speaks unless directly spoken to. I can already feel the tension and awkwardness hanging in the air, and we haven’t even ordered our food yet. At this point, keeping the peace is my main goal, but as the night wears on, what I want for my wedding is becoming less and less heard, and Lincoln, my Lincoln, says nothing.

It's too late to back out now, I remind myself, forcing a smile as my future mother-in-law asks me yet another question I have no desire to answer. I have to make this work. I have to fit into this family. But deep down, I know this dinner is just the beginning of the challenges ahead.

As soon as we walk in the front door, I wheel on him. I held my tongue all night, but no more.

“What the hell was that?” I ask.

---