Page 96 of The Perils of Pretending
He’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a husband and future father of my children, and I get to call him mine. Forever.
Epilogue
Max
MyhandsshakeasSadie and I drive south from the Tampa airport to Sarasota where my parents live. I’ve never brought a girlfriend home before. I’m not sure how my family will react. They know Sadie’s coming, but will there be unlimited jokes about how I’m in my thirties and barely serious enough with someone to have them meet the fam?
As nervous as I am about it, it also doesn’t matter because Sadie’s my forever and at some point, she needed to meet everyone in person instead of just on video chat.
Ever since we got back from the reunion in Homer, my life has improved drastically. Sadie makes the hard days easier. She drives down to my place for dinner a few times a week, and I spend the weekends with her downtown. If we don’t get to see each other in person, we call and text all night long. I didn’t realize how unfulfilled I was until I fake dated Sadie.
Having a friend, partner, and confidant has made everything brighter, richer, and more fun. I want to wake up to her every morning, have kids, travel the world, play hockey, and do everyday life with her.
Sadie twists the air conditioning vent, angling it toward her. “Are you sure your family is going to like me? I’m so nervous, I’m sweating to death.”
She’s nervous? I’m literally shaking. “It’s the heat. It feels wrong for it to be so hot in November.”
“Remind me again why your parents moved here from Alaska?”
“They were tired of the long, dark winters.”
“Right.” She swipes her palms down her thighs.
I grab her hand, resting it on my leg. Maybe if we’re clinging to each other, we won’t be so scared. “You’ve talked to my parents numerous times on video chat. This won’t be any different. Well, besides, my annoying brothers razzing you for dating me. Other than that, we’re going to have a blast.”
“You’re right. I’m getting in my head. And I’ve wanted to meet your parents ever since you told me about your mom and all the fun activities she did for holidays. When we called them to tell them we were dating and were both planning on coming for Thanksgiving, I thought your mom would have a stroke from pure excitement.
“I love how she kept repeating that this will be a first for you to bring a girl home and she couldn’t wait to see me in person. I need to channel the excitement instead of the anxiety that they’ll suddenly not like me. But hey, I’m looking forward to seeing our feathers on the turkey in the dining room. Your mom said she printed more to accommodate my daily gratitudes and now he looks like a peacock.”
Max chuckles. “There’s a lot to be thankful for.”
“There is. And I finally get to see what you told your mom to put on your feathers every day this month. I’m still confused why you won’t tell me.”
I tap the back of her hand with my thumb. “Because it’s fun to draw out the anticipation.”
“Fun for who?”
“Both of us.”
Sadie shoots me a dry look. “Whenever you say that, it really means it’s just for you.”
I bring her hand up to my mouth, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. “And I love that you go along with it anyway.”
“It’s only because I love you that I willingly suffer.”
Hearing her say she loves me sends a rush of warmth through my chest. “You’re a saint. Truly.”
Sadie grins. “I know.”
I exit the freeway and shortly after we pull in front of my parents’ cream-stucco rambler with red roof tiles. In the middle of the front lawn are two palm trees. In the flower bed, are a variety of perfectly trimmed bushes. I bet Dad spends a lot of time making the branches look uniform. He always enjoyed being outside in the garden.
“Wow,” Sadie says, leaning forward in her seat, peering through the windshield at the house. “It’s pretty.”
“It is. The pool in the backyard is the best part. The only downside is we’re under the same roof as my brothers. I hope they don’t annoy you.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, staying here instead of a hotel saves us money.”
True. We need money to move in together after we’re married. Sadie and I have discussed that neither of our places is ideal for two people combining households so the plan is to buy a home sooner rather than later after we wed. “Agreed. And at least you get the murphy bed in the office. I’m stuck sharing with Justin.”
