Nia's Resolve | 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦

Thanksgiving: BONUS CHAPTER

 Happy Holidays!

↳ ᶜᵃˢᵖᶤᵃᶰ ↴

Imperfections on the road rumbled under the tires, blending in disjointed melody with the radio's subdued song. Caspian tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove, each passing minute like a countdown to disaster.

Unlike going away to college, he wasn't sure this new development would feel like rolling out the red carpet and entering center stage in all his glory.

No, that part was reserved for Nia.

She sat beside him, small hand cradled in his. He feigned a calm demeanor as best he could and mindlessly stroked her warm skin. Their destination was the country club his step-dad owned, the place where Caspian had agreed to meet him for the first time, and where not only his mother, but Nia's mom would be meeting them as well.

A large family-style Thanksgiving for company executives and their guests was what the invitation had said; one that happened to include catering and required formal attire. The tie around Caspian's neck already threatened to choke him to death, if his nerves didn't get the job done first.

"This is really happening," Nia spoke, breaking the illusion Caspian had conjured in his head that they were just on an ordinary drive, on one of their typical date nights.

"Yeah," he replied. He didn't want to say more and risk sounding as nervous as he felt.

Nia flipped her hand over and entwined their fingers. Though his eyes were busy looking between the road and the GPS, he could feel her study his face. "Are you ready?" she asked.

When he swallowed, that damned neck tie pushed further into his skin. He cleared his throat. "Ready would be a hard goal to achieve, baby girl." He gave her hand a light squeeze. "But since I have you, I think I'll manage."

She returned his squeeze and sighed.

"What about you?" he asked. "Do you know if your step-dad decided to come?"

"Mom hasn't said anything." Her fingers absent-mindedly fidgeted with his, a nervous habit he'd grown quite fond of. The concern inside shifted from his worries to hers; even when they met with his father she hadn't seemed this anxious.

"To be honest, I hope my step-dad doesn't end up going. Is that wrong of me?" she asked. " I know it's supposed to be a family event and all, but not seeing him these past few months made me finally feel...better."

"Yeah well, I was hoping for the same thing." If Nia had wanted him to meet her step-dad, that would be different, but she didn't even want to be around him. And he knew her reasons. "If you're wrong, then I'm wrong right along with you, so don't worry."

She relaxed a little. "It's bad enough both our mothers are going to be there, I think both step-dads would be a little too much."

He let out a terse breath. "Don't remind me."

Turning down the last road between them and the country club, a long driveway came into view with perfect rows of aligned trees highlighting a large, white building. "Not exactly looking forward to meeting mine."

"I think it's good you're giving him a chance." Nia let go of his hand and grabbed her purse as he pulled up to the valet. "After all, he does mean a lot to your mom, and he didn't have to extend an invitation to us, or to my family."

"Yeah, but he could've also just met us over a regular thanksgiving dinner, not one where he's surrounded by a hundred people who's paychecks he signs." Showing off status and a big wallet didn't impress Caspian, and he hoped his step-father didn't expect admiration from appearances alone.