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When we get back downstairs, Dom has woken Zee up and Cam is sitting on the couch, trying to look like everything’s fine.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” Dom says. “Let’s get out of here for the day. We can go get some breakfast and go shopping. I want everyone to pick out some new clothes and shoes and furniture for your new bedrooms.”
Hannah turns to me, her jaw dropped with excitement. “For real?”
I’m not just talking about the shopping when I smile and say, “Yes, he’s for real.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rowan
* * *
I shake my head as I walk up to Dom’s front door and see the turkey wreath hanging on it. My dude definitely did not own a single wreath before meeting Tess.
He’s never been happier, though, so I guess a wreath with a turkey holding a sign that says, “Gobble ’Til You Wobble” is a small price to pay.
I’ve only been over to Dom’s to play video games, watch games on his big screen or play poker, so I was surprised when he asked me if I wanted to come over for Thanksgiving. Tess is probably doing all the cooking.
Our teammates Sal and Sergei are coming, too. Sergei’s Hummer is already parked in front of the house. I’m planning to eat, have a few drinks and take off. Holidays make me uncomfortable.
I ring the doorbell and when Dom answers it, I grin at his sweater, which has a huge roasted turkey on it that says, “Let’s Get Basted.”
“The ugly sweater season isn’t long enough for you?” I quip as I step inside.
“Hell no. Happy turkey day, brother.”
“Smells incredible in here.”
We give each other a back-slapping hug and I pass him my contribution to the festivities—a store-bought apple crumble pie.
“Nice. I’ll add it to the dessert table.”
“There’s a whole table?”
He laughs and looks at me over his shoulder as he leads the way to the main-level family room. “Tess and Cam have been baking for days.”
I remember then that Tess’s sister and her kids live here now, too. Dom went from being a bachelor to having a large family overnight.
His Great Dane Boni comes over to greet me and I pet him. He sniffs my coat pocket and looks up at me expectantly.
“You know I’ve got you, bud.”
I take a beef stick out of the pocket and pass it to him. He walks away to enjoy it, as always.
“Guys, this is my teammate, Rowan,” Dom says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Rowan, this is Sam and Tate, they’re twins.”
One of the boys is sitting on the floor watching the Thanksgiving parade, and the other one is standing on Sergei’s back. Sergei looks up at me from his spot face down on the floor and waves.
“They like to wrestle,” he says as the boy standing on him flexes.
“Hey, I’ll tag in soon,” I say, grinning at the boy. “I’ll show you how to body slam him.”
Sergei scowls at me. “Good luck with that.”
He’s right. He’s a beast with thirty pounds on me, but I still enjoy getting to him.
“And you already know Zane,” Dom says as he leads me into the kitchen.
