Page 117 of The Marriage Narrative
And just like that, it was her turn to giggle.
Chapter 28
Zinnia
Her parents owneda three-story house with a big front porch and a tire swing in the yard. They converted the attic into a bedroom to give her more privacy when she was seventeen. She stayed up as late as she wanted, playing music and making art, while they were asleep on the first floor. Her dad had even installed an alarm that connected to their room. In case of emergency, he’d come running.
It was still hers because as long as her parents lived in that house, she had a place to stay.
Jordan froze right in the middle of the driveway. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his forehead. “I’ve never done this before.”
“Met your wife’s parents?”
“Met parents period. I was a teenager the last time, and it doesn’t count because I already knew them.” He kissed her suddenly, quickly at first and then longer.
“Shit. Hold still.” She tried to wipe her lipstick off him with her thumb. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” She switched to using a napkin from her purse.
“You’re right. Guilty as charged and I’d do it again.”
“Please try to control yourself. We’re married but we need to keep it rated G around them.” She smoothed down the front of his shirt and gave him a once-over.
“Am I presentable?”
“Mostly,” she joked. “They’re gonna love you because that’s what they do. Loving people istheirsuperpower. You’ll see.”
A title likehusbandcame with specific expectations in her family. Hers checked every single box except for one. If her parents thought he wasn’t good enough because of it, then she’d just watch him prove them wrong. Because he would.
On the porch, right as Zinnia was about to use her key, the front door swung open.
“Baby girl!” Her dad stood with his arms outstretched wearing his signature straight-faced smile—it was all in the eyes, pitch-dark and lively as an electric current. New wrinkles had carved themselves into his dark brown skin since the last time she’d seen him, especially around his eyes and mouth. His neat, curly hair was more salt than pepper and he was only a few inches taller than Jordan. Odds were good he wasn’t taking his supplements and had started shrinking.
Matthew Sims was supposed to tower like a giant over everyone else.
“Hi, Dad.”
“I saw you on the doorbell camera thing,” he admitted as they walked inside the house.
She should’ve known. “Have you been using it to spy on the neighbors?”
“Now, no, I haven’t, but it tells me when there’s activity going on.”
“That means he’s spying,” she said to Jordan and then slipped her arm around his waist. “Dad, this is him.”
“Him.”
“Jordan.”
“Jordan.”
Her man of the hour cleared his throat and said, “Hello, sir. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
They shook hands, but her dad narrowed his eyes and said,“Sir.”
“Uh, Mr.Sims?”
