I turn my head back toward Luca. “I’m sure Grammy and Papa are looking forward to seeing you. Do you want to head in?” I ask, giving him a quick kiss on the top of his head before he takes off running into the house to see my parents.
“So, what are you doing here?” I press, shutting the car door.
“My parents are in Bora Bora for the week. I’m usually at the restaurant on Thanksgiving anyway.” Mason quickly follows behind me, a bouquet of lilies in one hand. “Besides, it’s not really a big holiday for my family.”
My eyes immediately fall to the beautiful white flowers.
“Those aren’t for you,” he says, dipping his head to bring my focus back to him.
My eyebrows snap together. “I didn’t think they were.”
“They are for the gracious and kind hosts who invited me. And clearly, that wasn’t you.”
I force a smile in an attempt to hide my growing irritation. It’s not even three in the afternoon; we haven’t even entered the house—and yet I’m already annoyed by Mason’s presence.
Both of my hands are clutching the casserole dish filled with mac and cheese when I stop at the front door to the house.
“Harry and your mom invited me to spend the holiday with you guys,” he continues, closing the gap between us.
“No one told me that.”
“I didn’t think your parents had to ask for permission to invite someone over to their own house?” He snickers. “And I thought we were friends?”
“I said I would tolerate you, not be your friend.”
“Your choice.” We’re both staring down at the door handle. “I think you need my help again, don’t you?” He knows I can’t use my hands at the moment, and he’s taking full advantage of giving me a hard time about it.
I glance away, pursing my lips together. “I guess so,” I respond, but he doesn’t open it. Instead of helping like he offered, he stands in front of me with his hands in his pockets. “Are you going to open the door?” I ask, hearing the impatience in my own voice.
“You didn’t say please.” He tsks.
“Come on, Mason.”Nothing.I exhale in frustration. “Fine. Will you just open the door?”
He smiles and leans against the door frame.
“Please?” I ask again, flaring my nostrils.
“Of course, I will. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Asshole,” I mutter under my breath.
When we walk into the house, my dad is sitting in his favorite chair, and Harry is sprawled out on the couch watching the game. I immediately hear my mom scurrying around the kitchen, cooking. I can’t see around the corner, but Jess loves to cook, so I’m sure she’s preparing everything alongside my mom.
Jess and my mother are incredibly close. They have a lot in common, including their love of being in the kitchen. I know my mom wished I had taken an interest in cooking and baking, but I didn’t. I find it boring, tedious, and actually quite hard. I was grateful when Jess came into our lives because she loves it. My brother’s fiancée is one of my best friends, the sister I always wished Harry was, and a second daughter to my mom and dad. She comes from a troubled family, and we welcomed her with open arms.
Luca and Phoebe are probably down the hall playing in their rooms. Now that Phoebe is getting old enough to stay over hereas well, my parents decided to turn their other guest bedroom into a room just for her.
“Did you guys come together?” Harry asks when he sees me and Mason walk in at the same time.
“No,” I firmly respond, making a beeline for my mom and Jess in the kitchen. Mason doesn’t answer, but as I strut into the kitchen, my back sizzles under the direction of his concentrated stare.
“Hello, Mason. I’m so glad you’re able to join us,” my dad calls out from his recliner on the other side of the room.
“I am too. Thanks for the invite.”
I quickly glance at him from over my shoulder just in time to see him flash a mischievous grin.
This is going to be a fun day.
