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“But you toldwhen you came to dinner Can you see how I feel a little hurt?” She frowns, picking up a piece of bread and slathering it with butter “God, breada bite

“I know, right” Thea laughs in agreement

I clearout and saying ere ht fizzle out and wanted to spare everyone the heartache of knowing” I look at Thea and the love I feel for her, there’s no way that’s ever going away I take her hand beneath the table “But I think we’re in it for the long haul I have faith in us and I hope you do too” I look atfor their approval

My ot married without us,” she cries “You’re my oldest baby, don’t you think I wanted to be there?”

“It was kind of a spur of thein volume, I add, “I don’t take it back, either, because if we hadn’t done it ouldn’t be together today and I wouldn’t give this up for anything”

Thea lets out an audible exhale of, “A,” beside me

“You guys will have a real wedding, though? Right?” , so we can all be there?”

I shrug “Maybe, in time, if Thea wants”

My mom zeroes in on Thea like a vulture “Thea?”

Thea nearly chokes on her water “Uht now ain and Xander’s gone all the time”

My mom presses her lips into a thin line and exhales heavily “Think about it, please It’s so that would mean a lot to us, and I think, down the road, it would ”

I glance at Thea “We’ll think about it”

I wish she’d shut up about this before she sends Thea into a panic Thankfully, Thea doesn’t see it

The waiter co us funny looks, probably because of the bottle of wine my mom still has beside her He’s probably worried we’re all a bunch of crazies and are going to bail on the crazily expensive meal

Luckily, the rest of the dinner goes ss out with htly hurt by the situation, but she’s not pissed anymore, so I’ll take that as a win I’ll make sure to stop by the house with lunch one day this week so we can chat just the two of us