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Story: Ill Will

“He’s telling me he’s goinghome.On yourwedding night!”
“I said I was packing up my stuff to come back a different day. We’re tired, Isra.”
“So?” she asked. “This is your first night together! It should be in the same house!”
“Mom, back me up here.”
“Sorry, kiddo,” Nancy said with a shrug. “I agree with her. I thought it was a given that you were staying here. Not packing up the second the wedding is over.”
“I ... I told you, I need to pack.”
“I’m sorry, pack for what?” I asked.
“Moving in, obviously,” Isra said with a laugh.
I made a noise between a gasp and a scoff. “I ... That’s moving a little fast, don’t you think?”
“A little fast? We didn’t even meet you until your wedding day! You’re slowing downnow?”
“No, Isra, I’m moving in.” Levi rubbed his forehead. “It’s just not tonight.”
“With the way you were talking, you were here already!”
Levi looked at me with wide eyes, and it hit me that we were not going to get out of this without lying our asses off. He and I could talk about what the hell we were going to do later.
“He hassomestuff here, but moving is a lot of work. We figured we’d get it all done in one go and he could go through his stuff.”
Isra and Nancy glanced at each other, obviously considering what I said.
I glanced at Levi and wondered if I had gotten through to them.
“We’ll pack up for you,” Isra said. “Problem solved.”
“But—”
“You two get rest and we’ll take care of it!” Nancy clapped her hands together. “Think of it as a late wedding present.”
“You guys don’t need to—” Levi tried to say, but Isra cut him off.
“No! No excuses. Spend time with your wife! Not packing up! We’re going there tonight.”
“Tonight? But?—”
“Actually, right now. No leaving! Enjoy your time together!”
Isra grabbed Nancy and marched out the door, leaving us alone.
“What just happened?” I asked numbly.
“My mom and stepmom happened,” Levi said, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“What the hell are we gonna do? We can’t move in together.”
“We can’tnot.Why would we rush into getting married otherwise?”
“No,no.” I crossed my arms over my chest.“This isn’t happening. This house isn’t even your style.”
“I thought we established that I love your house.”

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