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“The picture is in there, sweetheart, so it won’t get bent up or anything,” she said.
“Thank you so much.”
“You’ve very welcome.”
Beth kept staring into my eyes, then reached out and cupped my face in her hand. It was what my mom used to do and I missed it. There was something about Zac’s mom doing it, though, that filled the emptiness inside me for the moment, and I cherished it more than she knew.
When it came time for Zac and me to leave, his parents walked us to their front door, said they’d love for the four of us to get together again soon, and then hugged us goodbye. On the drive back to my house, Zac held my hand again while the radio played and the two of us kept smiling. It had been such a wonderful day.
“It’s so strange seeing you without your wedding band,” I told Zac.
We were standing in my kitchen now, stealing a few more minutes together before he went home to relieve Bash of uncle duty.
“It feels right to me.”
“Whenever Avery comes back, what are you gonna tell her if she asks you about it?”
“The truth. That I can’t look at it anymore because it’s a joke. She and I are a joke and I’m not gonna fake anything about my relationship with her any longer.”
“She still wears her wedding ring.”
“Only because she likes to show it off.”
“It’s a pretty ring.”
“Yeah, it is. I bought it for a different person, though.”
“I know you did.”
“Stevie, thank you for going to meet my parents.”
“They’re amazing. I had so much fun with them, getting to know them and all. They’re both free spirits and they’re so cute together. I love how they still flirt with each other and show their affection.”
“They’ve always been just like you saw them.”
“You had a fun and peaceful childhood with good role models, then.”
“I did.”
“Me too.”
“I want what’s left of my son’s childhood to be that way.”
“Malcolm already has a good role model in you and you make his life fun and peaceful. I’ve seen it.”’
“Yeah, but there’s a huge puzzle piece missing and that’s you.”
I took a deep breath and stared up at Zac.
“I’m sorry,” he continued. “I shouldn’t have gone there. I’m bringing down all the good of this day.”
“No, it’s fine. I have the same thoughts you do.”
“Are you getting tired of waiting for that door to open to our forever?”
“Yes, I’m tired of waiting, just like you are, but that doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere. Do you doubt that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t wanna doubt it, but honestly, I do wonder if one day you’re just gonna get enough of waiting and throw in the towel. You’re human, Stevie, and I know that what I’ve asked of you is so damn much.”
