Page 104 of Security and Submission
Her mother had hated it because she thought it was Yasmine’s way of putting off the wedding, instead of just being a good life decision.
“Who says? Women used to have to get married because we were basically forced to for financial reasons. Now, you girls have options I didn’t have, much less the kind of choices my mother or grandmother had.” Sarah smiled. “If you want to live in sin for the rest of your life, who cares?”
“My mother.” The answer was automatic. “My dad would, too.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Yasmine faltered again. She wasn’t entirely sure. Appearances? Maybe a bit. Marriage was important to her parents and their friends. To society in general. Because her mom wanted to make sure she was taken care of… but Yasmine took care of herself. She did not actually need a man, certainly not financially. So, she’d refused to settle for anything other than a man who added something to her life and disappointed her mother over and over again. “I think she thinks it will ensure my happiness.”
“No one’s happiness is ensured. You could get married to the best man in the world, and he could be hit by a bus the next day.” Sarah’s smile was sadder now. “The best we can usually hope for is happiness for a while. A life with no regrets. Do you regret breaking up with any of your exes?”
Yasmine shook her head.
“Do you wish you’d married any of them?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Do you think you’d regret it if you didn’t fight for Zeus?”
It was a scary, scary question, but Yasmine felt the answer in her chest before she responded.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Zeus
When Zeus picked up Yas to go get Hope, she was very quiet on the ride to the vet. He stayed quiet, too, letting her stare out the window. He wasn’t really sure what to say to her at this point. It didn’t seem the right time to get into an in-depth conversation about anything.
“Do you want us to go get your car after this?” he asked as he pulled into the parking lot. There were a few spaces open right in front of the vet, thankfully, so Hope wouldn’t have to walk far—or he wouldn’t have to carry her far if she couldn’t walk. “You can still come back to my place if you don’t want to spend tonight at home. But you might want your own transportation.”
Yas hesitated for just a moment before shaking her head.
“No, thanks. I don’t have anywhere I need to go until tomorrow at the earliest.” Her voice dropped lower, closer to a whisper. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
“Okay.”
He wanted to tell her that it probably wasn’t going to get easier, but he didn’t want to push her. It sounded as though she would need her car tomorrow, so circumstances would get her to that point without him having to be the bad guy.
Getting out of the car, he started around to open her door, but she already had it. He curved his fingers around it, holding it open, so he could be the one to close it behind her. Yas shot him a curious, almost hopeful look, but then her gaze fell again.
As they walked into the vet’s office, Zeus stepped into place slightly behind her, glancing around the parking lot out of habit. He didn’t see anything out of place. An older couple coming out of a restaurant on the other side of the lot, hand in hand, the gentleman helping his partner down the stairs. They were both wearing khaki pants and light blue shirts, almost matching perfectly. Zeus knew how appearances could be deceiving, and yet something about them made him think that he wouldn’t hate that for him and Yas. Maybe not the matching outfits, but the connection that practically radiated off the two of them.
Zeus’ hand came up to rest on Yas’ back, ushering her into the vet office as he turned to face forward again. Yas glanced up at him again but too quickly for him to catch her expression.
Taylor was standing beside the receptionist as they walked in, and she brightened as soon as she saw them. Even though Zeus knew the office would have called if anything was going wrong with Hope, it was still a relief to see the vet tech looking so happy to see them.
“Good afternoon, you two! Hope is doing so well. She’s going to be thrilled to see you.”
He felt Yas relax against his fingers.
“Oh, good, we can’t wait to see her.” Yas’ relief was evident in her voice and the way her shoulders sagged.
“Give me just a minute. I’ll go get her, and Cherise here will handle the paperwork.” Taylor patted the older Black woman sitting in front of her on the shoulder. “She’s still a little woozy from the pain meds, so she won’t be moving as quickly as you’re used to, but she’s recovering nicely.”
“She’s such a good girl. I’m glad she was able to get her surgery,” Cherise said, shooting them a quick smile as Taylor trotted off, before focusing on her computer. “How is Sarah doing?”
“Also recovering well,” Yas answered, letting Zeus off the hook for the small talk. “She has a friend coming in to stay with her tomorrow, who will be here for at least a week, and we’ll be around to help with Hope as needed.”
“That’s wonderful. It’s good to have community. Okay, so just let me print this…”
