Chapter 25

Jennie

I need a drink. A big one. With lots and lots of alcohol. I close my eyes in a long blink, praying I misheard Kara.

"That's less than a year away!" Mom exclaims. "Do you think you can get everything ready in time?"

March isn't that far away, she's right. And there is a lot to do before then, and I'm not thinking about the wedding.

"I think we can swing it," Kara says. "I'll have to get right to work, I know, and my mom's already on it." She looks back at Jinwoo, smiling. "We don't want anything fancy, anyway."

I bring my hand to my head, subconsciously rubbing the space between my jaw and my ear. It's been hurting off and on since last weekend, and I knew I should have listened to Lisa about a sinus infection lingering for longer than normal now that I'm pregnant.

"Are you okay, hun?" Mom asks, and I flick my eyes up to her.

"Oh, yeah. I think I have an ear infection, that's all," I blurt. I should have made something up, but I've never been a good liar and not telling the truth is as bad as lying in Mom's book.

"I thought you said you were feeling better," Lisa says, turning to me.

"I was," I say guiltily. "But I got busy with work and started feeling crappy again. You were right about the cold turning into something more."

"Wait a minute," Jin says, eyes narrowing. It clicks in my mind right before he says it. "Why does Lisa know you were sick?"

Jinwoo stares at me before shifting his gaze to Lisa. "Is she your doctor or something now?"

Shit. Shit. Shit. This isn't how it was supposed to go. Damn you, Lisa. Stop being so genuinely concerned for me, why don't ya?

I inhale, look at Lisa, and give her a tiny nod. "No, she's not my doctor now. She's my girlfriend."

Jinwoo lets out a snort. "Funny."

Lisa puts her arm around me, and I lean in, needing her support. "Jennie and I are dating," she says, voice steady. "That's why I came to dinner tonight. We wanted to tell you."

Silence falls over the table. No one talks. No one breathes. And then Jinwoo's fist comes down on the table.

"You're dating my sister?"

"Jinwoo," Mom scolds, sticking to her don't raise your voice at the dinner table rules.

"My sister?" Jinwoo repeats, looking at Jinhwan, Donghyuk, and Jin. He expects them to be outraged like he is. Jin gives me a guilty look, feeling bad for outing us. Jinhwan's expression is unreadable, and Donghyuk, that asshole, is amused.

"What the hell, man?" Jinwoo waves his hand out in front of him. "Did you even think to stop and ask my permission before you made a move on her?"

"Permission?" I echo. "Seriously, Jinwoo? Like I need your approval before I date someone. Like I need any of your approval."

Wrong choice of words. Everyone starts talking at once. Jackson gets up from the table, running into the kitchen while no one is looking.

"You don't own me," I retort, narrowing my eyes at my brother. "Or Lisa. We can see whoever we want and we want to see each other."

"But she's my best friend," Jinwoo says, turning from the table.

"So now you're mad at me?" My voice gets higher pitched than I'd like. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't ask for your permission to date Lisa. I forgot she belongs to you and you alone."

"Jinwoo," Lisa starts, and Jackson runs back into the dining room, holding a bag of Sour Patch Kids he took from my purse.

"Can I have these, Aunt Jennie?"

"Sure, if your daddy says it's okay."

Jackson jumps up and down and toddles over to Jin, asking him if he can have the candy.

"Enough," Dad says, voice booming over everyone. "You both have valid points."

"Really, Dad?" I throw up my hands. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot we went back fifty years and I needed approval from the men of the house before I can date someone. Why don't you arrange my marriage and line up a dowry too?"

"Jennie, you're overreacting," Mom says softly. I have a tendency to do that, and it never went unmentioned growing up. "Calm down, everyone. This is a sensitive subject, but yelling and pointing blame isn't going to solve anything."

I lean back, heart racing. Lisa's arm is still around me, and I rest my head on her shoulder. I'm starting to feel sick again.

"Jinwoo," Mom starts. "Jennie is right, and she and Lisa are free to date whoever they want, including each other. Jennie, you have to understand the shock it gives to all of us to find out you two are a couple. I certainly didn't expect it, though I can't say I'm surprised."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jinwoo rounds on Mom. "And how are you okay with this?"

Mom gives Jinwoo a stern look, silently telling him to calm the fuck down and stop being such a possessive asshole. Lisa is her own person and doesn't need Jinwoo's permission to do anything.

"Who wouldn't want to date Jennie?" Mom asks seriously, and if things weren't so tense, I'd tell her to stop. "And Lisa…I hope this means we'll be seeing you more often."

"Seriously, Mom?" Jinwoo spits out. "She's dating my best friend."

"I'm sorry, Kara," Donghyuk says seriously. "I think the truth is coming out. Clearly, Jinwoo doesn't want anyone else getting in with the good doctor because he wants Lisa all for himself."

"Shut up," Jinwoo deadpans, annoyed with Donghyuk already.

Donghyuk makes a face like he doesn't understand Jinwoo's disdain. "Why else would you be so possessive of Lisa? What really went on behind closed doors in that dorm?"

"You'd be pissed if she was dating your best friend."

"I would be too," Jinhwan interjects, a smirk on his face. "We'd have bigger problems than this if Jennie wanted to date Donghyuk's best friend." He turns to me and winks. "But I think I'm safe there, right sis?"

"You are all ridiculous." I shake my head. "Lisa and I are a couple, Jinwoo, deal with it."

"Look," Lisa starts, looking across the table at Jinwoo. "I should have told you, and I'm sorry for that. But I really care about Jennie, and we're happy together."

"That's what matters," Mom presses. "You both deserve to be happy. Yes, it's a surprise, but we love you both and want you to be happy."

"How long has this been going on?" Jinwoo asks through gritted teeth.

I open my mouth just to snap it shut again. We slept together before we became a couple, and once Jinwoo knows I got knocked up from what was basically a one-night stand, he'll be even more pissed.

"A while," Lisa answers for me. She turns in, looking into my eyes. "Your mom is right. Who wouldn't want to date Jennie? She's the most amazing woman I've ever met, and I've wanted to ask her out for years but didn't because I didn't want to piss you off," she admits, selling it so well I almost believe it.

"What changed?" Jin interjects.

I got her pregnant, I imagine Lisa saying. Instead, she tightens her arm around me. She doesn't feel tense though, not like I do. "I caved and kissed her. I haven't been able to look back since."

She's telling the truth, to an extent. Is she telling the truth about liking me for years too?

"Grammy, Grammy," Jackson says, tugging on my mom's sleeve. He's holding something else now and is asking her what it is.

"I don't like this," Jinwoo huffs. "You don't have my blessing."

I shake my head. "Sorry to tell you I'm not losing sleep over it. I haven't before, and I won't now." I take a small drink of water, hoping to settle my stomach. Jinwoo will come around eventually, like Lisa said. It's going to be a rough road, but we'll get down it.

Well, until they find out about the baby. Last night, Lisa told me not to worry about my family's approval, and it hit me how much I seek it. My whole life they've supported me, told me how proud they are of me, and protected me. My parents worked their asses off for me, and all four of my brothers would take a bullet for me in a heartbeat.

I'm a grown woman with a good job, a healthy bank account, and my own place. It's not like I'm sixteen and pregnant. And as far as baby daddies go, I hit the jackpot with a sexy surgeon.

Still, I'm terrified to see the disapproval in their eyes. Maybe we should wait until tomorrow, deviating from my plan to further liquor my parents up, remind my mom how much she desperately wants another grandchild, and then spring the news on her.

My stomach protests and my throat feels sick. I'm definitely not ready to tell them now. I just need to make it through dinner and then go lay down, preferably with Lisa's arms around me.

Jackson gives my mom something, and I realize what it is a moment too late. He was digging through my purse to get the candy, but that's not the only thing he took from there.

And now Mom is holding the ultrasound pictures.