Chapter 37 #2
Somehow, I stir before my alarm sounds, giving me a moment to savor this peaceful moment with my sleeping Jude.
They’re not quite in my arms, but close enough that their face is nuzzled against my chest, with one arm draped over my torso as if holding on for dear life.
Their features are relaxed, completely still except for the gentle rise and fall of their chest, and I can feel their warm, steady breaths through the thin fabric of my shirt.
The amount of affection coursing through me is overwhelming.
This is far better than anything I could have dreamed for myself.
It’s everything. I could lie here all day, and I’d be the happiest man alive.
Jude is here, and they want to be here, dozing peacefully by my side.
And they love me. Jude loves me, and I love them. Holy shit.
Unable to resist, I gently run my fingers through their soft, strawberry-blonde hair, reveling in its softness. They inhale sharply, eyes fluttering open.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
As our eyes meet, Jude smiles and relaxes again. “Morning, handsome,” they rasp, snuggling into me.
I cradle them close, pressing a kiss to the top of their head. “Good morning, love. How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in a while,” they say, voice muffled against my chest. “You?”
“Same,” I reply. “I never want to leave.”
“Me neither. But what time do we have to leave?”
I grunt and reach for my phone to see the time. “Let’s shoot for 10 or 10:15? It’s almost 8 now.”
Jude groans. “Ten more minutes.”
I grin. “Okay. Ten more minutes.”
Ten minutes later, by some miracle, we peel ourselves away from Fort Cuddle Puddle, and I head to room 319 alone to get ready, giving us both some privacy.
I told my parents to expect us around 11 AM.
I almost forgot to text them last night to let them know I wouldn’t be coming home, but fortunately, I remembered just before they started to worry.
I told them it was a long story, but Jude needed me.
To my surprise, they accepted it. Today should be interesting, for sure.
After the sad dismantling of Fort Cuddle Puddle, we make our way to Specter.
Jude drives this time, and I act as DJ. Once again, we never break physical contact—if Jude needs both hands to drive, I rest my hand on their leg.
We chat, laugh, and sing along with the music the entire drive.
At least until we pull into my subdivision, when Jude’s smile slowly fades.
“Hey,” I say, stroking their leg. “You don’t have anything to worry about. My family’s pretty dope.”
“Everyone?” Jude asks nervously.
I nod. “Ashley’s parents might be older, but they’re good people. They might misgender you by accident, but we can correct them, and they’ll take it in stride. I promise.”
Jude parks in the driveway, then takes a steadying breath. “Okay. Next question,” they begin, but immediately hesitate. “What…what are we?”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Good question. What do you want to be?”
Jude shakes their head. “This is your family, so you have to decide. You were my fake boyfriend for my family, so… are we doing the fake dating thing for yours, too?”
I take their hand in mine, waiting for them to look at me. “Jude Cohen, will you be my real partner?”
Jude blinks. “Like, for real?”
“For real, for real,” I say. “Not just for my family. Not just for today. But for always. For as long as you want to be.”
Jude stares at me for several seconds before their lips curl into a smile. “Yes. Yes, for always.”
My heart swells, and unable to stop myself, I lean over the console to kiss them. They happily kiss me back, sighing contentedly as they caress my cheek.
When we pull apart, I keep my eyes fixed on them. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Hand in hand, we make our way to the front door. Before I even have my keys out, Charli swings open the door to greet us. “Oliver! There you are! We’ve been worried sick!”
I frown. “What? I texted Dad and Ashley—”
“Relax, unc, I’m messing with you,” Charli says with a grin, then turns her attention to Jude. “Happy Thanksgiving! Hi, I’m Charli.” Charli extends a hand to Jude.
“Hey Charli! I’m Jude. Nice to meet you!”
I glare at Charli. “Really? ‘Unc’ again? Where is Bella?”
Charli smirks. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Before I can reply, Ashley appears at the door. “Hey Oliver! Y’all come inside!”
We step through the doorway and take off our shoes.
“Welcome to our home!” Ashley says with a wide smile. “I’m Ashley, Oliver’s stepmom.”
“Nice to meet you, Ashley,” Jude says. “I’m Jude. I’m—” they glance at me for support. “I’m Oliver’s partner.”
Ashley’s eyes widen. “Partner? Oh! I thought you—but Oliver said—”
“Our status just recently changed,” I explain, interlacing my fingers with Jude. “As of like, the last twelve hours.”
Ashley grins widely. “Well, how about that! Congratulations! Come on in, lunch is almost ready.”
We follow Ashley and Charli into the kitchen, where Ashley’s mom, Angela, is tending to something on the stove.
“Hey, Mom, Oliver and his girl—I mean, his partner—are here!” Ashley mouths an apology to Jude before washing her hands in the sink.
Angela turns around and beams. “Hi, Oliver! Come give me a hug!”
I obey, tugging Jude along behind me. “This is Jude. They use they/them pronouns, like my friend Wren.”
Angela nods. “It’s lovely to meet you, Jude! I’m Angela. Please forgive me if I get anything wrong. I promise I’m trying, but sometimes the old noggin doesn’t keep up as well as it used to.”
“I completely understand,” Jude replies, a genuine smile on their face. “I really appreciate it.”
“Oliver, can you come help me with the potatoes?” Ashley asks.
“Absolutely,” I say, heading to the sink to wash my hands.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Jude inquires.
“You can pour yourself a drink and relax, darling,” Angela says. “You’re our guest.”
Jude smiles nervously, but complies, settling in at the breakfast nook. “Oh, hello,” I hear them exclaim a moment later.
I turn to see our cat Cookie rubbing against Jude’s legs, tail raised straight up in the air. Jude bends down to let Cookie sniff their hand, and Cookie eagerly licks Jude’s fingers.
“Aww, she likes you!” Charli remarks.
“Well, I like her, too!” Jude says, scratching under Cookie’s chin. I’m not close enough to hear, but I’m certain Cookie is purring loudly.
Lunch is ready soon after, and Ashley sends Charli to gather the rest of the family so we can eat.
As soon as everyone congregates in the small kitchen, I clear my throat.
“Everyone, this is my partner, Jude. They use ‘they/them’ pronouns. And before anyone asks, I never lied when I said we were just friends, because Jude and I just became an official couple today.”
“Fantastic!” Dad says. “Jude, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Tom.”
Ashley’s father gives a polite nod. “And I’m Rick—Ashley’s dad.”
Jude shakes hands with both of them. “Thank you for having me.”
Bella has been staring at Jude from the moment she walked into the kitchen, expression indecipherable. Charli elbows her, stirring Bella out of her daze. “Hi,” Bella says nervously. “I’m Bella.”
“Hey, Bella,” Jude says with a sweet smile. “I’ve heard so much about you and Charli.”
Bella returns Jude’s smile, but it’s awkward and shy. Weird—Bella’s usually so confident and feisty. What’s gotten into her today?
Oh. Oh my God, Bella’s flustered. She finds Jude attractive.
Bella thinks my partner is hot. Ha! This is amazing. I can’t wait to tease her about it later tonight.
“Now that introductions are out of the way,” Tom declares. “Let’s say ‘grace’ so we can eat. Charli, would you do the honors?”
Charli nods. Jude bows their head and closes their eyes just in time for Charli to start: “Good bread, good meat, good God, let's eat!”
Everyone shouts “Amen!” in unison.
Jude’s eyes fly open in shock, then they giggle. “Okay, that’s amazing.”
“Told ya,” I say softly. “My family’s pretty cool.”
Jude nods. “You were right.”
Lunch is perfect. No one misgenders Jude—not even once.
The family conversations center on Bella’s soccer team, Charli’s upcoming school theater production, and my parents’ new weekly trivia night at a local brewery.
My family doesn’t interrogate us about anything—only a few curious questions about Jude’s interests here and there, but nothing intrusive or remotely controversial.
Jude eats everything on their plate, smiling and laughing with everyone.
Everything is perfect.
“So, I ended up buying the pies from a local bakery instead of making them myself,” Ashley confesses as she brings in two pie containers. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a crazy month at work, and I just didn’t have the energy.”
“Oh, hush,” Angela reprimands. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Ash. You made just about everything else we ate today. Store-bought pie is just fine.”
“Everything was delicious, baby,” Dad says, pecking a kiss on her cheek.
“Thanks, y’all,” Ashley says bashfully.
“Man, y’all need to try Jude’s baking,” I exclaim. “Their cookies are phenomenal.”
“Oh?” Ashley says, flashing Jude a smile. “Do you enjoy baking, Jude?”
Jude nods. “I do.”
“Well, if you’d like to join us around Christmastime, we would love to have you and your cookies, if it’s not too much trouble.”
Jude’s eyes twinkle. “I would love that. Thank you.”
“No offense, Oliver, but how in the world did you land someone as cool as Jude?” Charli asks.
“Uh, offense taken,” I reply, clutching my chest. “I’ve got rizz.”
Bella snorts. “Dude, you absolutely do not have rizz.”
“I’ve got rizz coming out of my butt, Bella. You don’t even know.”
“No one wants to hear about your butt,” Charli says, scrunching her nose.
Jude frowns, reaching for the buzzing phone in their pocket. Their eyes go wide with fear as they glance at the screen.
“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.