Page 96 of The Rules We Broke
I smiled and wiped the lipstick off his lips.
“I know I never won a pageant. But do you think I’ll pass your parents’ inspection?”
“Darlin’, youarea beauty. And hands down, I’ll have the best-looking wife in my family. I couldn’t care less what they think. Honestly, I’m grateful you never entered one of those pageants.”
My heart flipped. I kissed him again. So long, he was wearing more lipstick than me. At this point, I should invest in lip balm.
My lips weren’t used to all this action.
I led Brady to the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase. I also wanted to show him the cake Doris and I had made. He was impressed.
“Thank you for going with me tonight—and for all the trouble you’ve gone through,” he said.
“I suppose you’re worth it.” I grinned. “But promise me you won’t leave my side the entire night.”
“I have no intention of leaving your side. Ever.”
I liked the sound of that. A lot.
I took a few deep breaths as we carried the cake out together. Brady kept glancing over with tentative smiles. I think he felt guilty.
I just hoped I would make it through dinner without embarrassing myself—or tossing my cookies. My stomach was in full rebellion.
The ride was quiet. Brady kept his hand on my leg and gave it gentle squeezes now and then. I hated that it was like this. For most couples, dinner with the parents was something to celebrate. For us, it felt like trial by fire.
The Jackson mansion gleamed with thousands of white twinkle lights. It really was beautiful. My aunt used to have her house professionally decorated every Christmas. I wondered when she stopped. I should ask.
Before we got out, Brady leaned in and brushed his lips against mine.
“I love you.”
“I know,” I whispered, heart racing.
He touched my cheek. “Just be yourself.”
“I don’t know how to be anyone else.”
“Thank goodness for that, darlin’. Are you ready?”
“If I say no, can we leave?”
“Ellie, we’ll leave right now if you don’t want to do this.”
I looked into his impossibly blue eyes and reminded myself why I was doing this. For us. For forever.
I pictured myself dressed in white, walking toward Brady. A honeymoon. A life of never having to say goodbye again.
I took one last breath. “Let’s do this.”
Brady smiled as he stepped out of the truck. I handed him the cake, and he helped me down, balancing the dessert in one hand and my fingers in the other.
The circular drive reminded me of Aunt Lu’s, though instead of a grand fountain, the Jacksons had a meticulously trimmed sitting area—benches nestled among manicured trees and shrubbery.
Their house was larger than ours—red brick with a porch that spanned the entire front, flanked by two massive wings. I didn’t care about the size, but I had a feeling they did.
Brady didn’t knock, which I supposed made sense. It was his parents’ home, after all. But part of me wished we’d stalled—just for a minute more.
Inside, the entryway was broad and bright, with gleaming floors and high ceilings. Dead center stood a towering white Christmas tree dressed in red and green.
