I'm Thankful For

Chapter 35

Tina's POV

I dropped my bag and went straight into the shower. The weather was getting a little chilly, but my body felt sticky and uncomfortable. I adjusted the water temperature to a little warmer and stood under the stream, letting it soak my tired body. Yesterday, I didn't have a chance to shower in the afternoon because Joe surprised me with an impromptu camping trip up on the hill.

I could still smell Joe's cologne on my skin. After our first encounter under the stars, we couldn't keep our hands off each other, and we ended up making love inside the tent. Passionate, rough, and unforgettable. Then we had another round in the morning. My vulva was still swollen when I touched it, but I loved the feeling. It reminded me of last night, and my heart skipped a beat just thinking about it.

After a long, satisfying shower, I made myself a cup of coffee and plopped down on the couch. I scrolled through my phone, looking at the pictures Joe and I took yesterday. The sunset one caught my eye, and I decided to post it on Instagram. Just as I was about to hit "post," my phone rang.

I picked it up, but before I could even say a word, Trisha's voice blurted out, "How was it?"

I paused for a moment. "Ummm," I started, unsure of where to begin.

"Come on, you're killing me!" she teased.

I chuckled and replied, "It was amazing. Thanks for the tips and the idea." Trisha was the one who gave me those moves that worked wonders on Joe. She had walked me through how to please him, showing me the ropes with all the right touches. "The night was fantastic," I added with a grin.

"And the sex?" she asked, not holding back.

I let out a sigh, trying to find the right words. "I can't even begin to explain how amazing it was. It was just perfect. We went camping on the hill and made out under the stars," I said, feeling a little giddy recalling the night.

"OMG, someone's over the stars," Trisha teased, clearly delighted. "I'm so glad you had a great time. You definitely deserved it after all that exam stress," she added.

"Yeah, you're right," I said. "What did you guys do yesterday?"

Trisha took a dramatic breath. "You won't believe it, girl. Edam booked me a spa treatment. I got all these manicures and pedicures, and a full-body massage. Then he came early from work and took me to a fancy restaurant on the top floor of one of those buildings where you can see the whole city. After that, we went for a long drive and had lots of sex," she confessed, laughing.

"Okay, then," I said, shaking my head, laughing too. "Well, let's catch up later. I need to sleep since I didn't get much rest last night," I joked, already yawning.

Trisha giggled, "Yeah, see you soon, you naughty girl," and hung up.

I put my phone on silent mode and closed my eyes, hoping for some much-needed rest, but my mind wouldn't quiet down. Memories of last night kept replaying in my head. I opened my eyes when I thought about meeting Joe's parents.

"My parents are really looking forward to meeting you on Thanksgiving," Joe had said. "It's the first time I'm bringing someone home, so they're really excited."

The thought of meeting his family made my heart race. What if they didn't like me? My palms grew sweaty, and I could feel the anxiety creeping up. It was my first time meeting someone's family, and I had no idea what to wear or how to act casually around them. I'd even looked up tips online, but it didn't help. I was still so nervous.

I closed my eyes again, trying to push the thought of Thanksgiving out of my head. I plugged in my earbuds and played some music loud enough to drown out the thoughts. I had no idea when I drifted off to sleep.

"Tina, Tina," a voice called out, sounding like it came from far away.

I opened my eyes, but there was no one. "Tina, are you there?" I heard again. I sat up in bed, confused, trying to figure out what was happening. The voice called out one more time from outside.

I groggily walked to the door, half-asleep, and opened it. "Thank God you're home."

I blinked and rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the fog. When I finally looked at the person standing in front of me, I froze.

Shawn was standing there with his luggage.

I reached out and touched him, just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. "It's me, Tina. I'm for real," he said, holding my hands and bringing them to his face.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't even realize I was crying until they started falling. I hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. It had been so long since I'd seen him, and it felt like I had been holding my breath this whole time.

He kissed my temple and whispered, "It's alright, I'm here."

I clung to him, reassuring myself that he was real. After a long moment, we finally pulled away. He kissed my forehead, soft and gentle. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

I nodded, still sniffling. "Yeah, I'm just... I missed you so much," I whispered.

He wiped away my tears and stepped inside.

"That was quite a breathtaking surprise you gave me," I told Shawn, my voice still shaky but filled with warmth.

"I've been knocking for a while, but I could tell you were deep asleep," he said with a smile, setting his luggage down.

"How did you find my apartment?" I asked, curious.

"I showed the address to the taxi driver, and he brought me here. At the gate, I checked with the security guard, and he confirmed everything," Shawn explained.

He looked around, his brows furrowing slightly. "Why is there so little furniture in here? Haven't you bought any?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

I hesitated before answering. I didn't want to upset him by mentioning my reasons. "I've just kept things simple," I said with a shrug. "Less to clean, and easier to move to a new place later."

He nodded, but I could see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. I quickly changed the subject. "So, how come you're here? Weren't you supposed to come for Christmas?"

Shawn sat down on the couch, looking comfortable, and I went to make coffee.

"We came for a seminar, and I wanted to surprise you. I didn't tell you ahead of time. I did try to call before boarding the flight, just to check on you, but the call wouldn't go through. Where were you?" he asked, looking at me curiously.

I couldn't exactly tell him I was up on the mountain with Joe, so I lied. "Oh, I turned off my phone to get some rest after my exam," I said casually.

He followed me into the kitchen, clearly curious about my apartment. "Why does it look so... dull in here?" he asked.

I laughed a little and said, "I just keep it simple. Plus, I don't have much time, and it's easy to move when I don't have a lot of stuff."

He seemed to understand, and then he wandered into my bedroom, looking out the window. "The view from here is amazing," he commented, impressed.

"Do you want to take a walk and have dinner at one of those fancy places? Your treat," I teased.

He came back to the kitchen and sat on a stool, a playful smile on his face. I handed him the coffee.

"How's Joe?" Shawn asked suddenly.

"He's good. We haven't spent much time together because of exams," I replied, hiding the truth. I didn't mention anything about last night. Shawn was too overprotective.

"What about you? Are you seeing someone?" I quickly shifted the focus to him.

We chatted for a while. Around six, we grabbed our coats and headed out into the chilly evening. The city had a different energy at night. Quiet but intense. Streetlights cast long shadows, neon signs flickered, and the world seemed to slow down, holding its breath for the day ahead.

We walked for a while, taking in the sights, until we found the perfect restaurant. It was exactly what Shawn needed after his long journey.

And as we sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel thankful that, in the chaos of life, I had someone like Shawn to surprise me.

Joe's POV

I had lost count of how many times I had checked outside to see if Tina had arrived. My heart pounded with anticipation. Finally, she was coming over to meet my family and make our relationship official. Tonight had to be perfect.

The doorbell rang. My stomach tightened as I hurried to get it, expecting to see Tina. But instead, it was Tamara and her mother, Mrs. Givens.

Damn it.

I had been praying hard that Tamara wouldn't show up. Not tonight. But deep down, I knew she would. She and her mom had joined us for Thanksgiving dinner every year. It was practically tradition. Still, I had hoped things wouldn't be awkward between her and Tina.

I forced a smile and stepped aside. "Hey, come in."

Tamara looked at me with unreadable eyes before stepping inside with her mother. I led them into the dining area, my mind already spinning. Would Tina feel uncomfortable? Would Tamara make things weird?

No. Everything should be fine. After all, Tamara and I had patched things up, and she was now dating Justin. There was no reason for any lingering tension.

I checked the table again, making sure everything was perfectly set. The only thing left was the turkey, which Mom insisted should come out of the oven right before dinner. To keep myself busy, I poured wine for Tamara and Mrs. Givens and handed them their glasses.

"It's been ages since I've seen you, Tamara," Dad said.

Tamara glanced at me before shifting her gaze to him. "I've been busy with my new job and... new life," she replied, taking a sip of wine.

The doorbell rang again.

I exhaled in relief. This was it. "I'll get that," I announced, practically rushing to the door, straightening my outfit along the way.

And there she was.

Tina stood before me, holding a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine. My breath hitched. She looked breathtaking in her bottle-green full-length dress, her hair styled in elegant buns. My gaze dropped to her lips. Only a hint of her favorite lipstick, minimal makeup. Simple, yet stunning.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" she whispered with a teasing smile.

I swallowed hard, then whispered back, "You look stunning tonight. Just the way I imagined."

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

I took her coat and guided her inside. But the moment she stepped in, she halted. Her body stiffened.

I followed her gaze. She had spotted Tamara.

Shit. I had forgotten to tell her Tamara might be here.

I placed a gentle hand on Tina's back and whispered, "It's okay. Just relax."

Mom emerged from the kitchen, smiling warmly. "Welcome home, Tina. It's so lovely to have you here."

Tina's grip on the bouquet tightened for a split second before she handed it over to Mom. "Thank you for having me," she said, exchanging a warm hug with her.

Then Jia came along, grinning mischievously.

"Hi, I'm Jia. I'm sure my brother has already told you all about me." She extended her hand for a handshake.

Tina chuckled softly, taking her hand. "Hi, Jia. It's nice to meet you. And you look gorgeous in that outfit. Yes, your brother has told me all about you. He's very proud of you."

Jia smirked. "Well, he should be."

I guided Tina towards Dad, who was seated at the head of the table.

"Dad, this is Tina. Tina, meet my dad."

"Hello, Mr. Carlton," Tina greeted politely. "Thanks for having me here."

Dad's expression was unreadable as he nodded. "It's good to finally meet the girl my boy is in love with," he said, his tone cool, almost calculated.

Tina blinked. I felt my jaw tighten.

What the hell was that?

A thick silence fell over the room. Even Tamara and Mrs. Givens exchanged glances.

Thankfully, Mom broke the tension. "Come on, dinner is ready."

Tina and Tamara exchanged a look. Neutral but heavy with unspoken words before nodding at each other. Mrs. Givens hugged Tina warmly, which, for some reason, made me wonder if Tamara had ever told her mother about us.

I pulled out a chair for Tina, and she sat down, visibly tense. I took my seat beside her, gently taking her hand under the table. She looked at me, eyes uncertain. I squeezed her fingers. Everything is going to be okay.

Mom brought out the turkey, and Dad carved it as always. Once everyone had their plates ready, I poured wine for everyone again. Except Jia and Dad made the first toast.

"I'm thankful that my family is happy, healthy, and together," he said, his gaze lingering on me before he sipped his wine.

Mom followed with her own heartfelt toast. Then it was Tina's turn.

She picked up her glass and murmured, "I'm thankful for this family. For allowing me into their home, sharing their happiness, and being so welcoming."

She wasn't fooling anyone. She was nervous. And Dad wasn't helping.

As we started eating, the silence felt heavy. No one spoke much. Then, Dad cleared his throat, setting his cutlery down.

"So, Tina, why don't you tell us something about yourself?"

Tina, who had been eating quietly, froze. Slowly, she placed her fork down and took a deep breath. "Hmm, I'm from a very small island called Fiji, and..."

"Whoa, Fiji!" Jia interrupted. "I've heard it's amazing for vacations! I'm planning to go there sometime."

Tina smiled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Yes, it's a paradise. A lot of tourists visit for vacations, weddings, even proposals."

Jia grinned. "Are you two planning to get married in Fiji, then?"

"Jia," Dad grunted.

The table fell into a stiff silence. Tamara looked away, staring at her plate.

"Sorry," Jia muttered, stabbing at her food.

I caught Tina turning pale. My heart ached for her. This was supposed to be a happy night.

Sensing the tension, Mom quickly asked, "Are you enjoying your stay here in the U.S.?"

Tina nodded. "At first, it was hard adjusting, but now I'm doing fine."

Dad took a slow sip of his wine. "Why did you choose to study here instead of other countries?"

Tina's back straightened. That question came out of nowhere.

"I applied to many places for scholarships," she said, her voice steady, "but this university looked the most promising for my future."

Mom shot me a worried glance, silently apologizing for Dad's behavior.

"Why don't we enjoy our meals before they get cold?" she suggested, forcing a smile.

Dinner dragged on, the tension never quite fading. Afterward, we all helped Mom clear the table while Dad took Mrs. Givens to the lounge for a chat.

"What's wrong with him?" I whispered to Mom.

She sighed, placing a warm hand on my cheek. "Don't worry. I'll talk to him. Just focus on making sure Tina is comfortable."

Tina tried to smile, but I could tell she was upset.

Tamara refilled her wine and joined Dad, her expression unreadable. Was she just acting normal, or was she upset? Jealous, even?

Enough.

I pushed my chair back abruptly, catching everyone's attention. "I'm taking Tina home," I announced.

Without waiting for anyone's response, I grabbed her jacket, took her hand, and led her out the door.

I didn't let her say goodbye.

I needed to get her out of there. Now.

______________________________

"I'm thankful for the experiences that shape me, the people who support me, and the lessons that make me stronger."