Page 74 of Compassion

“Because I have people pleasing problem.”

Her eyes as well as Dad’s widen.

“Instead of doing things that pleaseme, I have a habit of doing things that pleaseothers, so that I don’t upset anyone because I don’tlikeupsetting people. And I don’t want people tonotlike me. However, I am learning – with some emotional support and a couple of self-help books – that it’s really okay to not be the book everyone wants on their shelf. That’s it okay to write orrewritethe details on my own pages.”

Dad’s grin grows impressed on a slow head nod, filling me with excitement, yet the look of almost horror in my mother’s swiftly kills it.

Probably shouldn’t have said that, huh?

“Isn’t being emotionally healthy one of the ways to prevent emotional eating?” I casually point out to defuse her shock. “And you’re always telling me that the reason you think I eat so many cookies is because you think I’m unhappy, so really, this is the type of progress youwantfor me, right?”

The proclamation shakes lose her momentary stone like state. “You’re right.”

“And I have been eating less cookies.” A forkful of food soars towards my lips. “But baking about the same.”

“Who’s eating my cookies then?” Dad curiously pokes on a quirked eyebrow.

I know what he’s doing. I know exactly what he’s doing. However, I…I don’t know that I should tell them. I mean maybe? Is the right time to announce not only do I have a boyfriend but he’s living with me and has been living with me for months? Should I wait?

“I can tell you for a fact it isn’t Dmitri.” Mom’s gaze forcefully latches onto mine. “What exactly happened? You kept brushing off the subject when I asked for more details. I think now is a good time for them. I mean he seemed sodevastatedthat you two never went on a second date.”

“Devastated,” Dad dramatically echoes, chuckling to himself afterward.

Holding back a smirk requires skill.

See why I love him.

“Was he too pushy? Too brainy? Too self-assured? You know there’s nothing wrong with a man who has confidence, Jaye.”

Archer has confidence. He just also…has insecurities. Like me.

“He just…wasn’t…the right…person.”

Okay, Jaye. Now. Now is the time to tell them.

“You’re never gonnafindthe right person at the rate you’re dating,” my mother berates causing me to shrink down into my seat.

“Mags,” Dad promptly scolds, “that’s enough.”

Both our sets of eyes swing to him.

“Whateverdudeour daughter invites into her life and falls in love with will be done at the speed and pacing that’s best forher.And what’s best for her may not be what youthinkis best for her. Just like me wanting to do a background check on thedudewhich Iknowis best for her, might not be what shethinksis best for her.”

Yeah, I see what he did there.Allof what he did there.

“Since when do you say dude?” Mom scoffs in obvious disgust. “Is that new, young detective with the Mahershala AliTrue Detectivestyle rubbing off of on you?”

His eyes hit the ceiling on a slow headshake of astonishment regarding her takeaway from the statement.

He should really know better by now. I mean…he is married to her.

“And now that we’re on the subject of detectives,” Dad sighs, stare falling back to me, “I grabbed you some of the old training manuals for reference purposes like you asked. They’re on my desk in the study.”

Excitement immediately tears through my expression. “Thank you! The kids – both the younger ones and older ones –lovereal life examples versus just props or toys. It encourages a more realistic connection between what they’re learning and how it relates to the real world.”

Both of my parents smile warmly.

Thankfully, the conversation that proceeds focuses less on my dating life directly – or what my mother believes to be lack thereof – and more on itindirectly.They ask about the progress of my home office – something I evidently should’ve had a long time ago – yet in doing so they seem to have difference stances on the subject with Dad believing I have every right to commandeer a space that once belonged to Chris and Mom appalled, I would be so disrespectful to him like that. As if the discussion isn’t awkward enough, it only grows more so when I let it slip that I’ve been thinking about offering Chris’s parents the model cities he built to have more room for other projects in the garage.