39. Annie
Annie
I never in a million years would have predicted going to my ex-boyfriend's parents house for Thanksgiving. This is normally the time of the year where I like to stay home, order a pre-made meal for two, and eat nothing but turkey and mashed potatoes for the entire weekend.
For the past few years, I’ve spent Thanksgiving evenings with Cassie or Marcy, but the rest of the time is for me to relax.
There’s enough traffic in Los Angeles around holidays to convince me to not leave my apartment.
Everything is delivered, most conversations are held over FaceTime, and if my mom wants to visit, we plan to do that a few weeks before whatever holiday.
Zayn has been pacing the apartment all morning, checking in on me, making sure we have everything we need.
“Zayn, we will only be there for two nights,” I remind him.
He’s acting like we are staying there for an entire week, packing multiple suitcases.
“I just want to make sure you have everything you need.”
“I already packed my one bag, Z, I don’t need anything else.”
“Nothing else? Are you sure?” Zayn’s standing in his closet, his hands full of different shirt options.
Why does this man care so much about this?
“Yes, I’m sure.” I walk toward him, take the shirts off his hands, and place them on the bed. “Is everything okay? Are you having second thoughts about us going?”
Does he not want to bring me home anymore?
“No, no, not that at all.” Zayn shakes his head. He pulls me toward him, enveloping me in a hug. “I just want this to be perfect for you. I’m already stressing out about my brother and I’m just not wanting it to be a bad few days for you.”
“Oh,” I say. “We will get through it together, right?” I pull back, meeting his gaze.
His brother is only one person. I can handle him.
Zayn nods. “Guess I don’t need all of this stuff then, right?” he asks with a sheepish grin.
“Nope, I’ll help you put it all away.”
We barely make it to the gate at the airport.
After spending an hour putting away the clothes and hitting the road, we got stuck in traffic.
I should have known, should have been better prepared.
I know what LA traffic is like, especially going to the airport.
If it says it’s only going to take a certain amount of time, you might as well triple that. At least.
Zayn’s hand wraps around my knee as we take off, stopping it from bouncing uncontrollably.
It’s a short flight, but I’m nervous. My heart won’t calm down, I can’t focus on a single thing, and my mind is wondering who won season 42 of Survivor .
There’s that many seasons right? I don’t even watch Survivor , why am I thinking about that?
Anything to keep my mind busy, I suppose.
“It’s going to be okay,” Zayn whispers into my ear.
“You’re supposed to say that.” I glare at him.
“I’m not supposed to say anything.”
“You can’t guarantee anything. I haven’t seen your brother since everything happened,” I say.
“I know he didn’t treat you well, but I’m glad you ended up with me.”
“I am too,” I say, looking up to meet his gaze. “You’re nothing like him, you know.”
I need Zayn to know that. That I trust him and know that he would never hurt or belittle me like Dan did.
I shift closer to him, brushing my lips against his. “You’re something else,” I mumble against his mouth.
“That’s my line,” Zayn says, chuckling.
“Our line.”
Zayn presses a kiss on my lips, then on my forehead, before leaning back in his chair.
“I got you. I’ll never leave your side. And if I do, Kiley will be there.”
I smile at him and nod, knowing that he’s telling the truth. But, I know that it’s time I confront this and find some sort of closure. I don’t know if it will do anything, but I need to show Dan that I’m doing well for myself.
The plane lands an hour later, and we take a taxi to his parents house. Nestled in a neighborhood and lined with tall trees, Zayn’s parents live in a typical Californian family home. Even though Zayn is famous, his parents work normal jobs.
His mom is a banker in town, and she’s been there for over thirty years.
She has many stories, and apparently could talk my ear off for hours.
His dad is an insurance agent, and even though I know nothing about insurance, I know he is a huge fan of music, so we can talk about that if things get awkward.
And Kiley will be there today, which I’m glad about. Between her and Zayn, I shouldn’t need to talk to anyone else for an extended period of time.
Then there’s Dan. Dan is apparently bringing his current girlfriend, but Zayn couldn’t remember her name. They won’t be there until tomorrow. He’s still working some office job, still an asshole.
“Last chance to turn around,” Zayn quips as the car slows in front of his parents’ house.
“I’m fairly certain the last chance to turn passed back at home.”
“I would buy us tickets to fly us back home,” Zayn teases.
His home feels like my home.
“You don’t need to spend more money on me, Z.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. Can you say that again?”
“I said, you don’t—”
“Oh, Annie, we should probably get out of the car, sorry, you can tell me later,” Zayn interrupts, winks for getting his way, then exits the car.
I follow his lead, helping him grab a bag, then following as we walk up the sidewalk to the front door.
He rings the doorbell and we wait.
“Zayn!” Zayn’s mom, Darla, appears on the other side of the door. She’s dressed in a burnt orange midi-dress, which is stunning and complements her dark brown waves. When she smiles, I see where Zayn gets most of his facial features.
“Gosh, where are my manners? Come in, come in.” She waves us inside and pulls me into a hug.
“Annie, I’m so excited to see you again.
It’s been too long. I was surprised to hear about your relationship, but I’m loving all the new images and articles about you two.
It helps me stay up to date since Zayn doesn’t like to call me anymore. ”
“Mom, I’m busy, you know that,” Zayn says, rolling his eyes in her direction.
“Well, either way, I’m glad Zayn could drag you here.” She beams at me, her excitement pure.
“No dragging necessary, she came willingly, Mom,” Zayn retorts.
“She must like you, then,” Darla comments, and I smile at their banter.
“Or she just puts up with him.” Kiley’s voice comes first, then I see her round the corner. “Hi, Annie!” She hugs me too.
“Hi, Ki! I was excited when Zayn told me you’d be here,” I say.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” She turns to Zayn to say, “Dad is in the family room.”
“Great. We’ll go put our stuff down and then come hang out for a little before we settle in for the night.”
“Okay, sweetie. That sounds good. Again, Annie, I’m so excited you’re here,” Darla comments.
Zayn grabs my hand and leads us down the hall.
The last time I was here, I was in Dan’s room, which is one door down.
I never snooped in Zayn’s room, but I remember thinking about it.
After feeling the way his body morphed around mine, I found myself curious about what he hides in there and what’s behind his mysterious demeanor.
“Is this weird?” Zayn asks as he plops the suitcase on his bed to unpack for the two nights we’re staying.
“A little?” I shrug, snooping through the books on a shelf in his room. “But not as weird as I thought it was going to be.”
“Explain...” Zayn looks at me with a sly smile.
“Well, before it felt like I was intruding? If that makes sense. Like, I was here with Dan, but I didn’t feel like he wanted me here. I felt like an obligation. Almost like because it was a holiday, it was expected of him to bring me here.”
“And now?”
“Now it feels different. I don’t know how to describe it.” I sit down on the bed next to the suitcase, fidgeting with my bracelet.
“Can you try?” Zayn steps in between my legs and grabs my hands, soothing me with small circles from his thumbs.
“It’s you, Z. You make it different. Being here with you feels right?
Like I belong, which is something I’m not used to.
And even being here, in your childhood bedroom.
” I huff a laugh as I take in the random trophies around the room and music posters on the wall.
“I’m just extremely happy, and because of that, it makes me feel calm and wanted and safe. ”
Zayn lets go of one of my hands and cups my jaw. “I’m glad to hear that. You are wanted and safe with me. Always.”
He leans over and presses a kiss against my lips.
“Gross you two.” Kiley’s voice comes from behind Zayn, and I giggle into my shoulder.
“Kiley,” Zayn grumbles.
“Don’t hate the messenger. I’m just here to remind you that our parents want to see Annie, and you’re hogging her.”
“She is mine.”
Every time he says that, it sends chills up my spine. I’m his.
“C’mon, Zayn. Let’s go mingle. We’ll have time later to chat more.” I push him back slightly to give me room to stand, then saunter over to Kiley.
Zayn follows, and we all make our way to the family room. Their dad looks the same as the last time I saw him; he still dresses in athleisure and has a shaved head.
“Hi, Jerry.” I smile as he stands up from the couch.
“Annie,” he says as he pulls me into a hug. “Not sure how this happened, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s a long story.” I chuckle and move to take a seat in between Zayn and Kiley on the opposing couch.
Darla chimes in. “Give us the basics. We are extremely curious.”
I look to Zayn to see if he wants to tell them or if he wants me to.
“Well, you guys know how this past year hasn’t been the best for me.
..” Zayn starts, and I reach over his lap to grab his hand.
He looks my way for a brief moment as he interlaces our fingers.
“Annie was hired to be my publicist after we reconnected at the studio. She didn’t know I was the client at first. Things just kind of evolved from there naturally. ”
“Yep,” I say with a grin, not feeling the need to add anything else.
“And you two live together, right?” Jerry asks.
“We do. And we know it’s quick, but we didn’t want to spend time apart.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Darla comments.
“Agreed. You two fit so well together,” Kiley says.
“I agree, Kiki,” Zayn says and he squeezes my hand.
My heart swells from all the compliments and how well this day is going.
I know tomorrow will be different with Dan arriving, and I hope he doesn’t cause any problems. We just need to get through dinner tomorrow when he arrives and then we get to go home the next day.
I know Zayn has my back. He will be there to help me through any uncomfortable moments, but I’m still nervous.
For now, I smile to myself as I look around the room, knowing that the man I love is sitting next to me and there’s nothing that can change how I feel about him.