Page 76 of Fierce-Jonah

She didn’t believe him. “It’s not like your family.”

“Not too many families are like mine,” he said.

He was right. Yesterday Jami and John Davenport had been friendly and funny. Trent was busting on Jonah and Cody. Cody giving it right back. She’d never laughed at a family function like she had at the Davenports’ yesterday.

“I know. But Raina told me waiting longer isn’t going to change their reaction.”

“You talked to my sister about this before me?”

Guess she put her foot in her mouth with that statement. “Is that a problem?”

“I don’t know. Women do that. I know. But she’s my sister.”

“And my best friend,” she said.

“Because she thinks you need to do it, you’re going to? Don’t you think you should make that decision on your own and not be pushed by someone else?”

“She’s not pushing me. No one pushes me.” She wasn’t sure if this was her guilt from the other part of the conversation she had with Raina or not. “I do things only when I want to. When I’m ready. The truth is, my parents are going to react the same regardless. Maybe worse the longer I take to tell them.”

Thankfully, she didn’t talk to her family all that much so it wasn’t like she had to hide much. Most of the communication with her family was text or just quick calls, but it’s not like her mother ever asked if she was dating anyone and she didn’t volunteer. No lying going on.

“You know them best,” he said.

“I do. Wish I didn’t, but I do. They are going to want to meet you at some point, I’m sure.”

“I’ll make it happen,” he said. “You know that.”

“Really?” she asked.

“What made you think I wouldn’t go and be there with you?” he asked, frowning. He helped himself to some more food and she decided to eat while he did.

“It’s not that. Just that I told you they called you a barbarian.”

“Before they knew me,” he said.

“True. I’m trying not to make a mess out of this.”

“Not sure why you are worried. It seems to me they don’t approve of much that you do in life. This shouldn’t be any different,” he said.

“You make a good point. It’s just different for me this time.”

He stopped eating and turned to look at her. “Why?”

She shrugged. “I care about you.”

“I care about you too,” he said.

“Really?”

“Again. Why the shocked face? Jeez, do you think I’m a barbarian too?”

“No,” she said, smiling. “I’m so unsure of myself and I try not to be that way.”

“Stop,” he said. “Be you. I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again. I’m going to continue to say it. If your family can’t accept you the way you are, then too bad. Move on.”

“It’s not easy to move on from those you love,” she said.

She must have been firmer than she thought when she said that. “I didn’t say move on from them, like leave them. Just accept it and don’t let it bring you down.”