Worth It (Damie)

Part 29

        

A/N: I have had a wild month since the last update, so I apologize for making you wait. I hope it won't be as long between this and the next one, but please bear with me as I have a busy schedule for the foreseeable future! Hope you enjoy this chapter, especially a tender moment they share about halfway through <3 You guys are the best! Truly.

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It was no surprise the moment we got home from our engagement getaway Dakota wanted to host her family to celebrate. I didn't mind it. I know she's close with them, and they've been nothing but supportive of our entire relationship, even when it was at its hardest. But part of me would be lying if I said I wasn't missing my own family being part of the joy. The distance is something I always have and will continue to struggle with. Like how much I hate that Dakota's leaving for a month tomorrow.

I amble out into the living room in gym shorts and a tee, rubbing the sandman from my eyes as I notice her standing at the counter going through her mail.

"Morning, baby," I say.

"Morning." She doesn't look up, stuffing the contents of one back into the envelope.

I walk up to peck her on the cheek before moving around her to pour myself a cup of coffee she's made.

"I don't get a real kiss?" she asks.

I chuckle, leaning across the counter to peck her lips instead. "Better?"

She smirks. "Thank you."

"You running errands today?" I ask, taking a slow sip.

"I don't know. I need to pack first then figure it out. Robin wants me to meet the paps for a photo op as preventative maintenance before my trip."

"Your work trip?" I emphasize. "What are you preventing?"

"I don't know, Jamie. But I should probably do it and shut up."

Someone's in a bad mood, so I'd fair better to ease her into our last day together for four weeks.

"I guess," I say as I open a protein bar and shove it in my mouth to keep myself from retorting.

"Have you seen the updated copy of my script?" She asks, meeting my gaze.

I shake my head. "I haven't. Did you already pack it?"

"No, I haven't packed a fucking thing and I'm leaving tomorrow. Maybe if the counter wasn't such a pig sty I'd be able to find shit."

"Whoa," I hold up both hands, "what's going on? I can clean the kitchen if that'll put you in a better mood."

She chuckles. "Oh I'm in a bad mood, great."

"You kind of are. But you want the counter clean, baby, then by all means." I start collecting her opened pile of mail to trash it.

She rolls her eyes. "Well, you were in a piss poor mood last night and my family noticed."

Ah, there's the real reason.

"How so?" It's my turn to cross my arms at her. She huffs and drops hers to her side.

"Jesse texted me wanting to know why you barely spoke to him."

I raise an eyebrow. "We talked briefly, but I was trying to help entertain everyone."

"Mmm, my family is overwhelming?"

I scratch my beard. "Did I say that? Don't put words in my mouth, darlin'."

"Mom even asked if we were fighting, because she said you weren't your usual self. Especially when you should be bursting at the seams. We're engaged, right?" She shows me her ring.