Page 81 of Until Tomorrow Comes
“What’s the third option?” I question, earning a smirk unlike any other I’ve seen from Kat. My heart skips a beat at the way her eyes dance with mischief.
“Option three, we have some fun. Put on a smile and fake happiness for the couple, act like none ofthis,” she gestures with her hands toward the sign, “bothers you and that you’re glad they both found each other. Put on a show that you’re happy too and kill them with kindness.” She swallows thickly, her voice softening as she steps closer to me.
“One thing I’ve learned is that people likethemthrive off of your response. They’re narcissists who will undoubtedly try to manipulate the narrative they have, in order to make themselves look better, and hide the fact that they are shitty humans.”
I play her words over in my head, glancing over her shoulder and spotting my mom at the next directional sign across the lobby. Kat follows my gaze, her features softening a bit when she sees my mom.
“However, I think what your mom said was true. I don’t agree with her at all, but I genuinely think she just wants to act like everything is normal and that her son’s don’t hate each other.”
My eyes drop back to Kat and I’m filled with awe.
Even when she is clearly disagreeing with my mom’s choices, she doesn’t disrespect her. She could just as easily talk shit about my mom, having not had the best impressions of her before. Kat tells me how she sees it, but she respects my boundaries when doing so, knowing that regardless of anything else, it’s still my mom we’re talking about.
“Of course, I could be completely wrong about everything,” she shrugs. “You know these people.”
Unable to resist, and even though I know my mom is watching and waiting, I reach up to stroke my knuckle along Kat’s cheek.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life, but fuck, Kat.” I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into me. Her hands rest on the lapels of my jacket and she smiles softly up at me.
“You came to a wedding that you wanted nothing to do with because you didn’t want your mom to be upset. Hell, you opened your house up to a complete stranger for the past seven months. As much as you try to hide it, Jackson, you’re kind of a good man.”
Emotion clogs my throat and the only response I can think of is to kiss her.
Keeping in mind that we are in a hotel lobby, I pull away much too soon. Kat takes a step back, smoothing her dress out before smiling up at me. With the natural lighting of the space, she takes my breath away.
Kat is radiant. Shining bright and drawing me in like a moth to a flame. I’d easily let her burn me alive for just one more touch.
“You’re like an amur leopard.”
“A… excuse me?” She raises a brow at me.
“An amur leopard. They’re one of the rarest cats surviving in the wild.”
“How… where did you even learn that?”
“The internet,” I shrug, straightening my jacket and fidgeting with my watch. Kat laughs, slightly shaking her head as she glances over her shoulder.
“Whatcha wanna do?” She asks me. Sucking in a deep breath, I square my shoulders and keep my eyes on Kat. Reaching toward her, I take her hand in mine and head toward the wedding.
“Let’s go have some fun.”
***
“Oh, Jackson! I did not expect to see you here!” My Aunt Alex exclaims as she pulls me in for a hug. Kat’s hand slips from mine while I politely pat her back before turning to extend my hand to my Uncle Phil.
“Well, he knew how important today was. That’s my boy, always showing up for family,” my mom gushes from her spot on the other side of me. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, stepping back and placing my hand on the small of Kat’s back.
My aunt’s gaze immediately follows the contact, her brow raising in clear question.
“Oh this is Jackson’s fri—” My mom tries but I cut her off.
“This is Kat, my girlfriend.”
The two of us smile brightly at each other. While we found our seats at the back of the ceremony space, I asked if it would be okay to introduce her as such. She was nodding her head before I finished answering, then winked and told me this might actually be fun.
From the corner of my eye, I watch my mom’s eyes widen as she looks between Kat and I, but she remains silent otherwise.
“Girlfriend? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.” My aunt exclaims and I turn back to her just in time to see her shoot a glare toward my mom.
