⇢ CHAPTER 82

eating another cake flavor in the conference room as Holly entered— groaning before she face-planted onto the couch, "sweetheart..." He abandoned the cakes, walking up to his fiancée in concern, "you okay?"

Holly pouted as she lifted her head up, wiping a stray tear that fell from her eye as she shook her head, "No."

"Oh—" Jackson's eyes widened a fraction of an inch— not expecting her to be crying before he placed the cake away and joined her, "what happened?"

"The President is trying to steal my best-friend  our sensors." Holly sniffled, sighing as she glanced down at the floor, "I know I'm overreacting— but I feel like I'm doing something great— like I-I'm changing the face of medicine by being on Callie's clinical trial with Derek where we're practically mapping brains by trying to help amputees and paralyzed people control robotic limbs and now " She scoffed, pointing to the door as if the man was there, "is being hunted by the President to join his stupid doctors in a research project that  map the brain and," She brought her hands to her face, "I'm a little jealous— but it also means we can't use the sensors anymore for  project, and now Callie is trying to get legal involved and—" She lifted her head up to glance at Jackson, "I feel a little overwhelmed talking to you sometimes when you're trying to plan for the wedding... you go all bride-zilla..." she paused, tilting her head, "or is it husband-zilla?"

"Whichever is fine." Jackson assured, taking a seat next to Holly as she sat up, "Holl..." She exhaled, resting her head on his shoulder as he spoke, "you don't need to feel like you can't talk to me—"

"I know." Holly nodded, looking up at Jackson, "I know I can talk to — b-but, honestly," She chuckled lightly, remembering his panicked face the previous day, "you kinda of scared me when you thought I lost the paper with all the venues you want to check." She beamed, "I like that you're taking over all the wedding planning."

"As long as you input your opinion every now and then," Jackson commented, wrapping an arm around Holly, "I'll be glad doing all of it."

Holly grinned, "Good."

"," Jackson added, "I'm sure Derek will figure something out with the sensors— I doubt he'll just up and leave to D.C. without a plan."

"Mm." Holly hummed, resting her head on his shoulder again as he eyes landed on the cake in front of her, "I hope so."

"...On that note," Jackson side-tracked, reaching over to the cake he placed away when Holly entered before he handed it to Holly, "you want to try some cakes?"

Holly pursed her lips, glancing over at the numerous  of cakes in front of her before she exhaled and shrugged, "Okay."

Jackson smiled, "Yes!" He abruptly stood, walking over to the conference room table as he began to present each one to Holly, who chuckled at his antics as he rambled about the flavors he knows she'd like.

✧

Feeling better, the worries of the previous day failed to faze Holly as she rested her cheek on her palm, allowing her eyes to examine Jackson's concentrated face in great detail as he wrote small notes in a wedding notebook he created the day after their engagement.

"Are you going to tell me the destination place you've decided for our honeymoon or are you going to keep staring at me?" Jackson chuckled, glancing up to catch Holly red handed before she could flicker her eyes away.

Holly grinned, "Why can't  decide?"

Jackson closed his notebook, "Holly—"

"What?" Holly reasoned, "You've probably been to more places than me so pick your favorite one and we'll go there." As Jackson opened his mouth to respond, Holly raised a finger, thinking over his potential answer, "And don't say 'Seattle' because that's where you met me— or 'Ohio' for that matter."

Jackson closed his mouth and shrugged, "Then I don't have an area in mind."

Holly felt her cheeks redden as she rolled her eyes at him, "Jack—" She paused, eyes catching onto someone at the end of the hall, "...Jackson..?"

Jackson, who had buried his nose back in his notebook, lifted his head up in concern, "What?"

"Did you or I do something to piss off your mother?" Holly exhaled, watching as Catherine looked around the hospital with a slightly angered face.

Jackson placed his notebook away as he glanced at his mother, "...Not that I remember." Placing a hand on Holly's back to guide her, he shrugged, "Come on, let's—"

"Jackson," Holly's eyes widened as she glanced up at him, feeling the heat of Catherine's stare as she froze in her spot, "I-I think she's pissed off at ."

"What?" Jackson frowned his brows, "Why—?"

"Mothers hate me." Holly reminded, holding onto the end of his shirt as she averted her eyes from his mother, "Jackson—"

"You'll be fine." Jackson assured in a whisper before his mother stepped in front of them.

"So..." Catherine began before a smile graced her face, hiding the bag of papers behind her as she looked at her favorite couple, "I hear congratulations are in order!"

"O-Oh." Holly stammered, glancing at Jackson with frowned brows as Catherine immediately hugged the pair, "Thank you?"

✧

"S-S-So," Holly stammered, feeling nervous as she and Jackson sat in front of his mother in the conference room— noticing her nerves, Jackson took her hand in his as she continued, "n-not that we don't love you, but  are you here?"

"Well," Catherine nodded, reaching into her bag as she looked for the papers she hid inside, "I've spoken to Jackson about—"

Holly's head snapped to Jackson while he scoffed, "Mom," He shook his head in disbelief, "I could've saved you a trip— ."

"W-What?" Holly looked between Jackson and Catherine, "What's—?"

"I already called Mike Farris." Jackson voiced at his mother, rolling his eyes as he leaned back in his chair, lightly tightening the grasp on Holly's hand.

"Good." Catherine nodded, abandoning her bag as she looked at the couple, "Then you'd—"

"Wait," Holly interrupted, unsure of what was happening, "who's that?"

Jackson exhaled as he explained while his mother went back to her bag, "He's our attorney." Jackson pointed between himself and his mother, "Avery Foundation."