I close my eyes, and not just because I'm trying to adjust to the light. But because Kari is seriously pissed.

In a lot of ways, I don't blame her. Talk about getting thrown for a loop.

Still, I hate the way she stormed off, assuming the worst, and granted it does look so very bad.

I go after her, desperate for my best friend to understand. Surely she'll see that this is more than a horny moment. She'll come around. Understand. Hell, a few hours ago on the airplane she told me that love conquers all. That I should fight for what I want. And now, after seeing me with her father, she's changed her tune.

"Stop Kari, just listen. Just for second. Let me explain." I run up the stairs behind her, and Brett trails me.

"Julia, Derek, you won't believe this," she says. "Downstairs, in the pantry, Ella and my dad were...." She tries to finish, but then she's crying and she just shakes her head, covering her face with her hands.

"What is it, dear," my mom asks wrapping her arms around Kari who is crying heavier now.

Kari lifts her head and looks right at me and her father. "Ask them. They are the ones who have decided to totally fuck with my mind."

"Nobody was fucking with anybody." Brett says, and then he shakes his head running his hand along his jaw realizing the error of his words. "Nobody was trying to hurt anybody. Ella and I ––"

My father cuts him off, choking on the words, "You and Ella were ––"

"Kissing," Kari yells. "Downstairs they were basically groping one another. This is insane and horrible. How could you Ella, you're my best friend."

I shake my head not even knowing where to start with her. I don't want to apologize for what I was doing. It felt so right, so pure and perfect. But the way she's looking at me now makes me feel like I've done something wrong.

"Listen," Brett starts. "Derek, Julia, Kari, I'm sorry that you found out this way. The truth is I want to be with Ella. And she wants to be with me. And right now, we're not looking for permission. We're just letting you know how it is. Did we want you to find out this way? Of course not. But what's done is done. And now the best thing we can do is figure out how we can move forward ––"

"Dad, there is no recovery. There is no moving forward. You guys fucked up. And I'm not gonna have you fuck with me too."

My mom shakes her head, her eyes close. My father pulls her into a hug and whispers in her ear.

"I'm sorry for hurting you," I tell them. "But it's right. Brett and I aren't a one-time thing."

"How long have you guys been...." Dad asks uncomfortably.

"We wanted it for a long time but we've never acted on it until today."

Kari's eyes go wide. "Oh my God. This is literally too much for me to handle."

"I'm not asking you to handle anything." Brett slams his fist on the counter. "I want to be with Ella. She wants to be with me. This is happening. Whether you like it or not."

"I don't want your ultimatums, Dad, I want my best friend and I want a father. You just don't get it. I lost both of those things tonight."

"No, Kari," I try. "You didn't lose me."

She pulls in a deep breath, wipes the tears from her face. "Well, you lost me."

"Kari," Brett says. "Let's go home and talk this through."

Kari scowls. "Are you insane? I'm not going anywhere with you Dad. I'm staying here, with people who haven't actually betrayed me."

It feels like I've been slapped across the face.

I look at my mom and dad, trying to gauge where they are with this.

Mom presses her knuckles to her lips, and looks at my father, nodding. "Ella, I think we all need some space here tonight. We're gonna get Kari set up in the guest room and maybe you can go with Brett. We all need some time to process this."

My eyes well up with tears and I hate how conflicted I feel.

"Okay," I tell them nodding, letting Brett lead me from the kitchen. I head to the foyer to get my suitcase, and Kari runs to the car to get her suitcase.

In the hall, my mom comes over to me, pulling me into a hug. "You want this?" she asks me softly. "I don't want my baby hurt."

"You aren't mad?"

Mom smiles softly. "You'd have to be blind not to see this coming." Then she squeezes me, and adds, "But I think maybe your best friend is just that. You need to give her some space."

"But tomorrow is Thanksgiving."

"Call in the morning, okay?" Mom says. "I'll let you know how everyone is holding up here."

I nod just as Kari pushes past me in the hall, under her breath she mutters, "Traitor."

Instead of fighting back, I lower my eyes to the floor, and follow Brett outside.

Driving away, there is a sadness that runs through my veins, but also a surge of pleasure.

Brett told my parents and his daughter that him and I are the real deal.

I still can't believe all my dreams are coming true in one day. Still, I can’t help but wonder if we are being rash, and hurting to many people as we pull out of the driveway.

“Ella,” Brett tells me, taking my hand in his. “Do you want to talk?”

I shake my head, not ready to put my thoughts into words. “Not yet.”

"You ready to see my place?"

“Yes.” That much I do know. "I've been there a thousand times and at least it will be familiar," I tell Brett as he pulls his car onto the freeway.

"You’ve been to my house, but baby, you haven’t been to my bedroom."