The wedding is in two days, and I’m nervous. After weeks of preparation and all the other things, I’m scared it won’t look how I want. The part I’m most scared of is my parents coming into town. Alejandro and I are currently on our way to pick up my parents who are staying at my house.
Unfortunately, we have to make this look real for them so they can get off our backs. I got out of the car to wave them over to the car, and they rushed over excitedly.
“My baby girl is getting married, how exciting!” I could tell by her tone of voice she didn’t want to be here.
“I know,” I joined, I actually was excited to get married though.
Alejandro came from behind me and wrapped his arm around me as he shook my parents’ hands. He just watched, his energy now protective and observant.
“It’s so lovely to meet such an independent young man, I never caught your name,” my mother says, still holding his hand.
“Alejandro,” he states, a wide smile on his face.
“Your last name, son?” my father tries to coddle.
I knew what they were doing. It isn’t something I can stop.
“Phantom, sir,” he states, his smile fading.
My parents’ eyes looked at me as if they wanted to kill me. He’s forcing me to be here, I’m just happily obliging.
“That’s great,” they both say in union.
Inwardly laughing at their reaction, I turned to get back in the car. Alejandro opens the door for me and my parents at the same time. He closes the doors and puts their suitcases in the back, getting in the driver’s seat. The drive was thankfully quiet. Alex and I held hands and were talking the entire time. We helped them settle into their room, and then we went into ours, locking the door.
“Alright, what’s the deal with them?” He asked me as soon as he locked the door.
“What? What are you talking about?” I asked
“Their whole mood doesn’t match the vibe they’re trying to give off. It’s annoying,” he complained, making me chuckle.
“They’re just weirdos love, it’s okay,” I lied, to the one man I know would go to all ends of the earth to protect me.
“If you say so, please call me if anything happens, okay?” He held his pinky out
I locked our pinkies as he made me look up at him,
“Okay?” he asked and I chuckled.
“Okay,” I finally said.
“I’ll be home around six, I love you,” He said as he walked out.
“I love you more!” I yelled, as he walked away, my face sad and angry,
Nia walked in soon after, face looking disgusted and uncomfortable
“Why are you guys doing that, ew,” She was truly disgusted.
“We have to. My parents are here,” I said and they soon entered.
“What about us?” my mother asked, taking a good look around the room as my father entered in behind her.
“I was telling my friend that you guys were finally in town,” I smiled and stood.
“It’s so nice to meet you, I’m Nia,” She said, extending her hand.
My mom pulled her in for a hug. “You can call me mom sweetheart”
Mother pulling the mom card is so funny. My friend knows what you evil bastards have done.
“I have to go get dressed. It was so nice to meet you guys,” She said as she exited.
“Did you guys wanna go out for dinner or something?” I questioned as I stood, walking over to my closet
“Jadyn sit,” My mother demands
“What’s wrong ma?” I ask as I sit down on my bed once more.
“Why in the hell would you ever get involved with the Phantom family?” My father yelled.
“What?” I was confused.
“You know they’re the most feared. They’ve been trying to buy out our businesses for years!” My mother joins
“Do you know what it means if you marry him?” My father questions.
“Duh,” I said, a huge smile spread across my face.
“So you want to go broke?” My mom tried to guilt trip me.
“I’m not broke. You don’t see my house?” I question and stand, laughing loudly.
“So you want your parents to no longer have a place to live?” They continued to try to push.
“Trust me. You’d be dead if I wanted you to be,” I say, a menacing look appearing on my face.
Shocked at my response, they stood there quietly.
“What did we ever do to you?” My mother asked.
“What did you ever do to me? Do you really not remember?” I yelled, now full of anger.
“Don’t be dumb. We never did anything to you,” My father chimed in, and I laughed like a maniac.
“Did nothing to me, are you kidding me? I honestly don’t even want to argue with you. Please leave my home” I progressively got louder, my eyes filled of tears
“We won’t be doing that” my father amusingly asked
“Please leave so I don’t hurt you” I begin to walk over, and the door bursts open, and Mateo stops me from reaching my parents.
“Like he said we aren’t doing that” My mother added as she walked over sitting on my bed
“Mother, father. I was affiliated with the mafia at 10 years old, and it wasn’t because I wanted to. You set a list in front of me that had all the heirs to the mafia and told me to pick one, and when I didn’t, you disciplined me. Now that I coincidently chose someone on your list you’re upset?” I spoke calmly questioning
“Wait- What do you mean affiliated?” He whispered the question in my ear still holding me back
“Not right now, Mateo!” I told him as my father began to speak
“That was before he tried to sell us out. I won’t let you marry him,” My father shouts.
“What’s wrong with that anyway?” my mom butts in.
“Mom, most kids at ten years old are in third grade and have a whole bunch of friends. I wasn’t even in school. How can you two not comprehend the trauma you put me through?” I say, and they go quiet.
“Please get out,” I simply say.
“You’re kicking out your own parents?” my mom asked me.
“Yes, get out,” I say calmly once more.
“Disgraceful,” My father spat at me.
“Says the disgraceful one,” Mateo says, guiding them out.
I sit on my bed, head in my hands. My sobs uncontrollably escaping me. Nia comes in and hugs me. I got in bed and continued crying. Nia let me be, and soon Alejandro came home.
“Hi sweetheart,” He said as I entered our bedroom.
“Hi,” I said in a monotone.
“How are you feeling love?” He asked, taking his shirt and shoes off.
“I’ve been better,” I said, turning over as he got in bed.
“It’s okay, I’m here to make all your problems disappear, my love,” He said as he pulled me into his chest and coddled me.
His warmth was something that was definitely needed. I fell asleep almost instantly. When my eyes opened once more, Alex wasn’t in bed anymore. I put on my house slippers and tied up my robe and went on a search for him.
“Despicable, they make me sick,” Alejandro said, and I stopped to listen.
“And they found nothing wrong with their actions,” Mateo added to whatever he had previously said before.
“What awful people. Jadyn deserves so much better,” he said.
“I just wonder why she kept it hidden,” Mateo added and pondered upon as he found me eavesdropping.
“She had lots of reason, I don’t blame her at all,” Alejandro stood up for me causing me to smile.
I quietly tiptoed past the study and take a step out onto the patio. The breeze blowing my satin nightgown side to side with my hair ever so slightly in my face. I watched as the trees flowed with the wind dimming the light of the moon as it tried to shine through the trees. I inhale deeply wiping the quiet tears that streamed down my face. The ambush of emotion and trauma from my parents being made me feel so helpless. I’ve never been one for emotions but these people they just know how to push buttons I didn’t know existed.
“Jade what are you doing, it’s freezing out here,” Mateo asked, a blanket wrapped around his shirtless body.
“I couldn’t really tell,” I shrug, and he chuckles at my joke.
“That’s not funny,” as he still laughs at my joke.
“Says the one laughing,” I say, pushing him away from me.
He sat silently shivering next to me as I looked upon the pond and trees.
“The sounds are so peaceful,” I inhale deeply before turning toward Mateo.
He hums in agreement as I turn my gaze to look upon the stars.
“Can I have a second with her, please?” Alejandro asked Mateo.
Mateo just simply walked away, and I turned to look at Alejandro and smiled.
“How are you doing?” He questioned as I turned back toward the pond.
“Fine, nervous to marry you,” I say, and he smiles.
“So you like me?” He asked.
“I dunno man, you aren’t all that cute,” I tease, and he laughs.
“Don’t lie now,” He wraps his arms around me, forcing me into a hug, and we laugh.
“If I had to marry someone I’m not mad it was you, you’re not that bad,” I continued teasing, and he released me from the hug cupping my face.
“You know you like me, love, it’s okay,” His smug smirk appeared on his stupid cute face.
“Maybe a little,” I smile, and he chuckles before slowly but surely placing his lips on mine.
I thought our first kiss would be on our wedding day but here we are. As we deepened the kiss, he gripped my waist pulling me closer to him. Giving in to whatever he was doing to me I smiled as we separated.
“Finally, I thought you’d never kiss her,” Nia says as she walks outside.
“What?” Alejandro asks as she sits on the lawn chair.
“It took you like three months to simply kiss her, get your game up,” Nia teases, and I laugh.
“Hey, I’m getting married to her tomorrow so leave me alone,” He says, flipping her off and taking me inside.