“I’m on it already. I’ve got a friend looking into him, and I’ll see what I can use.” I may not have the money or power Jason claims to have, but I’ve been in my career a long time. I’ve made friends along the way. Friends with resources and who are willing to do me favors not because of fear but because they respect me and I respect them.

“And you’ll let me know if you need any help? I know how protective you are of Liv and we are too, so anything we can do to give you both peace of mind, we’ll make it happen.”

“I know, Pops. I appreciate it. I’m good right now though.”

He nods his head along with me, mulling my words over. Once he’s satisfied that I’m telling the truth, he switches gears. “And how are things going with Liv? You guys are together together or still figuring things out?”

I laugh at his use of “together together” then turn to see my mom and Olivia still chatting away in the living room. “We’re together. I’m all in. She says she is too.”

“But you have doubts?”

“Nah, not doubts about that. Just trying to make sure she understands she doesn’t need to protect me like she thought she was doing before. If she disappears on some superwoman shit again I think I might lose my mind.”

“I think you’re both on some superhero shit when it comes to each other. Be patient with her. You can’t blame her for feeling just as protective of you as you are of her. It’s how it’s supposed to be. You’ve just got to communicate. Remember your goal is the same—to be together. You can figure out how to protect each other without sacrificing your relationship. Martyrs don’t make good partners.”

When Christmas rolls around, I brace myself for the day. My parents won a cruise trip through a radio contest, and they were going to turn it down since it would mean they wouldn’t be home for Christmas until I convinced them to go. Kylie and I are grown; we don’t need our parents to sacrifice a trip on our behalf. This does mean I’ll be spending Christmas with Po Po without them as a buffer though. She and I still haven’t had our much-needed sit-down, but I figure the holidays are not the time.

I expect Christmas dinner to be awkward but it really isn’t. Po Po is having a good day. She doesn’t complain about the food she can’t eat, and she only stumbles over her words a couple of times. She seems content, even with our limited interactions. Olivia squeezes my thigh under the table to remind me that she’s here for me.