"You don't have to come," I said, for the third time.
Jesse stood by the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of a shirt I'd never seen him wear.
Crisp. Black. Uncharacteristically neat.
"I'm not afraid of your father," he said. "I'm afraid of what you'll look like if I let you walk in there alone."
---
The drive back to my parents' house was silent.
Jesse's hand rested on my thigh the whole way, warm but tense.
Like if he let go, we'd both fall apart.
When we pulled into the driveway, my chest tightened.
Same porch swing. Same hydrangeas. Same front door I used to storm through. cheeks flushed from Jesse yelling at me at the garage.
Only this time, Jesse was beside me.
Not yelling.
Not untouchable.
Mine.
---
Dad opened the door,seems he isn't going anywhere today.
He paused.
His gaze flicked between us—my collarbone still faintly bruised, Jesse standing close but not too close.
"Come in," Dad said, stepping aside.
We did.
The air was heavy with roast chicken, warm bread, and tension.
---
Dinner was stiff.
Polite.
Mom smiled too much.
Dad didn't smile at all.
Halfway through, he cleared his throat and looked at Jesse.
"So. How are things going with the job."
Jesse nodded. "great"
"You've always been good at what you do best."
"Yeap I guess."
"Ànd Kade isn't giving you tough time?"
I choked on my drink.
Jesse, dead serious, replied:
"He was."
And for a split second—
Dad smiled.
---
After dinner, while Mom disappeared with leftovers, Dad asked me to stay back.
"Alone."
Jesse moved toward the door, but not before gripping my hand and squeezing once.
Stay strong.
I'm not going far.
---
My father leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Does he hurt you?" he asked, looking very serious all of a sudden.
"No."
"Would you tell me if he did?"
"I'd quit working before he gets the chance to do so."
He nodded.
Then:
"Would you mind telling me if something is going on between you two"?
I swallowed.
"But?"
"But I saw how he looked at you tonight."
He met my gaze.
"And I've only ever seen a man look at a person like that once. When I met your mother."
---
When I stepped back onto the porch, Jesse was pacing.
I didn't say a word.
Just walked up to him and kissed him like I was claiming something in front of the whole damn world.
"You okay?" he murmured.
"Yeah."
"Your dad?"
"Thinks we are hiding shits from him"
Jesse smirked. "Takes one to know one."
---
Went back inside,said our goodbyes and told Dad I'll be sleeping over at Jesse's cause we got so much jobs to do for the week and the distance is a killer from here down there so I'd rather stay over at Jesse's until I get my place.
Dad was quiet for a while then he looked at Jesse's,"you good with an extra mate"?
"Not a problem" .
They shook hands and we left.
We drove home with the windows down.
And for the first time in a long time, there was no storm at our backs.
Only the road ahead.