Mine Would Be You (84)

“That’s two more nights. And Mom will never let you stay at a hotel. So, let’s go and get back.” She still looks hesitant. “Please, Nina. I just need you with me.”

Nina’s eyes soften under the gloomy Georgia sky, turning them molten. “You’re sure I won’t overstep?” I rub her palm with my thumb before pressing in, a silent reassurance. “Okay, okay. Anything you need.”

My lips turn up, and I lean down, pressing a kiss against her forehead and lingering there. She exhales, never letting go of my hand. I let my family know I’ll be driving with her in her rental before making it to the house. My mom nods, giving Nina a warm smile as Veah pulls her in for a hug. Even Mateo hugs her, squeezing her tight.

Nina comes back to me, taking my hand and leading me to her car. Our shoulders brush as we walk in silence. But I don’t need her to say anything. She came even though I didn’t tell her and my sister did. She came.

Before we climb into the car I pull her back into my chest. Confusion flickers in her eyes. “What? Did you forget something? Do you need something?”

“I just need a moment.” I lean back against the car, pulling her between my legs. Instantly, her arms wrap around me. “Can I have that with you, just for a minute? Before we go?”

Nina rests her head on my chest. Holding her tightly, I rest my head on top of hers.

“You don’t have to ask Jackson. You can always have that.” Her words are soft but they mean more to me than I could ever explain.

Bending down to her height, I press my lips against her neck in soft kiss. She sighs and I move my lips to her ear, “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”





Despite everything, I love it here.

I love Jackson’s childhood home, his mom, his siblings. All of it.

Everyone that had come over for the wake left a few hours ago. Earlier, Veah and I put all the food away.

“How are you,” I asked.

Veah gave me a smile, but I saw the sadness on her face, in her eyes. “I’m okay. I’m worried about all of them, and that keeps me distracted. Mateo doesn’t talk, and that freaks me out. And Jackson just takes care of all of us, and that worries me in a different way. Basically, I’m just sad and worried.”

I didn’t hesitate to pull her into a hug, between wrapping up baked mac and cheese and roasted chicken, and she wrapped her arms around me. I felt her shoulders shake, but I didn’t say anything. I don’t think she wanted to cry, and I didn’t want to make her feel worse, so I just held her there.

A bit later, I helped Mateo move the furniture back to where it was earlier. He didn’t say much, just kept clenching and unclenching his fist until he accidentally knocked over a plate, shattering it on the hardwood floor. He cursed and kneeled next to it. I got a dustpan and swept it up, and he met my eyes with a silent thank you.

I’ve never lost a parent; I don’t know how any of this feels, so I’m just trying my best. Taking their moods as they come and doing whatever I can to help them however that might be.

When everything was said and done, we all just sat in the living room watching movies. For a bit, I felt like I was intruding, that the family needed some time together. Veah and Mateo sat on the floor, pushing their snacks back and forth, while Mrs. Ross sat in the recliner that she told me her husband used too, and I stayed next to Jackson on the couch. But I just felt like they needed to be with each other, so I offered to make hot chocolate for everyone.

I stand, waiting for the milk to heat, as I watch through the hall. Jackson leans over the couch to steal snacks from his siblings, and his mom laughs, a small one, but it’s still a laugh. I search the kitchen for the mugs and pull down five of them. When I turn around, Mrs. Ross is standing in the kitchen a few feet away.

She’s a beautiful woman, and I see the resemblance between her and Veah instantly, the only difference her darker skin. “Thank you for coming today. It meant a lot to him.”

I shrug. “I wanted to be here for all of you. I was worried I overstepped at first.”

She shakes her head, giving me a soft smile. “No, you didn’t.” She looks back to the living room. “You’re the only girl he’s ever brought home.” Shock fills my chest, and my eyebrows rise as I make eye contact with her. “I hate the circumstances, and I wish my husband were here to really meet you, but I’m also intensely happy for my son.”

Tears prick at my eyes at all of it. Stupidly, at being the only girl he’s ever brought here, and sadly at the fact that while I met his dad over the phone, I’ll never really get to know the man who had a part in raising Jackson.

I smile despite myself and shake my head. “I’m just a girl who happens to like your son.”

Mrs. Ross pats my hand, “You are far more than that, sweetie. But aside from that, thank you for being here for all of us. You helped in ways I can’t describe today when we got back here. They’ve all told me so much about you. And I know we’ve talked on facetime, but it’s nice to have you here.” She steps forward, her warm eyes reminding me of my mom as she pulls me in for a hug. “Thank you for being there for him, even when he thought he didn’t need it.”

This time I can’t help the tears that slide down my face. I try to wipe them away quickly. “You guys are amazing, and I’m just doing what I can.”