AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mason stepped forward to kiss my lips. “Today was fun. I—” He stopped himself short, deciding against saying whatever he was about to say. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
chapter forty-two
mason
My sister and I found new and creative ways to torment each other after having kids of our own. As it turned out, involving the kids in our shenanigans only amplified the fun.
“Don’t tell your dad,” I heard Lesley whisper to Finley at the kids’ Thanksgiving table at our grandparents’ house. It took a minute for me to figure out what she could possibly be referring to—and it absolutely had to have something to do with the red cup in Finley’s hands and her wide-eyed expression as she sipped the fizzy drink.
“Did you give my kid Mountain Dew?” I asked my sister as she walked past me toward the kitchen island to grab a divided Styrofoam plate.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Right. Two could play this game. I’d been contemplating getting my niece and nephew an obnoxious electronic drum set for Christmas, and after this Mountain Dew incident, I decided to pull out my phone and submit the order. I showed Lesley the receipt. “Can’t wait for Christmas.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“It’s already ordered.”
“I freakin’ hate you.”
“Your kids don’t.”
Lesley glared at me, but she smiled from one side of her mouth as we got in the buffet line behind our cousins. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until she came home for Thanksgiving. Normally, we only saw Lesley’s family at Christmastime—but since Owen’s wedding was over Thanksgiving break, she decided to make the special trip.
I wished like hell Kendall could have met her. I had an inkling the two of them would get along—if anything, they could discuss my horoscope together. It killed me not to be able to mention Kendall’s name. And when my aunts and uncles inevitably asked if I was seeing anyone, I had to lie and say I was focusing on Finley’s well-being and didn’t have time to date.
I caught Owen’s eye from across the table as I spoke, and he didn’t utter a single word. As far as I could tell, he hadn’t disclosed my indiscretion to Sarah. Similarly, I hadn’t mentioned his and Sarah’s secret to anyone, either—and I played my part in swiftly changing the subject when my mom asked them if they were going to be the next in the family to have a baby.
“Personally, I think Lesley’s going to pop out two or three more kids,” I said, taking a bite of turkey.
“Really?” She raised an eyebrow at me. “Because I think Finley needs a baby brother or sister.”
“Please,” Jake said with his mouth full. “It’s a miracle he got a woman to touch him the first time. The only way he’s fathering another child is by visiting a sperm bank.”
“How many numbers did you end up with the other night again, Jake?”
“Same amount as you.”
I just smirked in response. I couldn’t wait for the day I could reveal to these jerks I was dating the sexiest woman in all of Woodvale. If Owen told them right now, I doubt I’d even care. I would have loved to rub Jake’s face in it.
One day, I would.
Once the meal was finished and the family was getting started on a game of charades, I excused myself and snuck away to my grandparents’ bedroom, where everyone had thrown their coats on the bed. I pulled my phone out and called Kendall.
“Oh my god, it is so good to hear your voice,” she said.
“Are you having a bad day?”
“Not necessarily. Thanksgiving at my mom’s is just always so chaotic. Picture the most redneck event you possibly can—that’s Thanksgiving with my mom’s family. They’re deep-frying the turkey in the garage, and one of my aunts is crying because my cousin came out as a vegetarian.”
“Oh, how… devastating.”
“On the plus side, they’re all so focused on Jamie’s break-up with Daya that they’re not asking any questions about my love life.”
“How are things between your sister and Daya, anyway?” On Monday, Kendall explained Jamie ended things with Daya after announcing she would be moving to Indianapolis at the end of the academic year. Daya said she couldn’t leave her job, which put them at a stalemate. They each wanted the other one to make a sacrifice—and it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
Kendall exhaled into the receiver. “They’re still giving each other the silent treatment, using me as their go-between.”
