“He just knew,” Dom repeated the sentiment.
I heard the door shut behind us as I led the way in. We didn’t have to go far, as they were spread out across the living room.
Essie sat on the floor, laughing at something that had been said, though no one else seemed to think whatever the joke had been was funny.
When we walked in, however, all conversation came to a halt.
Dom paused behind me.
I cleared my throat, stepping farther inside the living room and hoped he followed. “I thought you said there’d be food,” I said, looking at the table.
“The dessert is chilling for a little while longer before we pull it out,” said Celeste, though her attention never wavered from Dom. He stayed right behind me. Her eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to place something, though she already knew I’d cursed him so, yay, mystery solved of why the big guy was hovering like a lost Saint Bernard.
“What’s chilling?” I asked. I waved Dom toward a spot on one end of the couch by the fireplace.
“Cheesecake, of course.”
Even if Ryan didn’t make it, we were going to have to save some for him. Out of all Celeste’s amazing, out-of-this-world recipes, the boy still liked her cheesecakes the best. He had nearly devoured an entire cranberry swirl cake during the holidays, moaning with discomfort and holding his stomach the entire time through our gift exchange.
I was surprised that he’d want to go near another cheesecake again after that, but he did continually say he didn’t regret it. He must’ve meant it.
“Does he know what kind?”
“I thought he’d like my hazelnut-crusted mascarpone,” Celeste said, as if she had in fact put a lot of thought into it.
A few of us sighed, knowing the exact deluxe chocolate-glazed cheesecake she meant.
The last time she had made it, we had all been clutching our stomachs in aches and delight, like Ryan had been at Yule.
“Though I also made some blondies for those of us watching our dairy intake.”
Faith nodded appreciatively, the only one of us who managed to stick to a vegan diet.
Then, the room got quiet again. Whatever it was they had been laughing about took a backseat to the elephant in the room.
I waved a hand toward the person to my left. “This is Dom.”
Gertie was the first to perk up, smiling. “It’s good to meet you finally, Dominic. Ana has told us quite a bit about you.”
Dom fought hard not to cringe. “I heard. Nice to meet you.”
Gertie pressed her lips together so as not to laugh.
“Gertie,” I warned her. Out of them all, I’d figured I wouldn’t have had to worry about the old lady.
She put up her hands.
“Either way,” said Gertie with a clap of her hands, “we don’t get many men in this house unless by relation or Ryan.”
Essie giggled. The only other boy who had ever walked through the door recently was Brenson, her brother. I wondered what he would think of my repeat guest. He was the only one who had really seen him last summer in person other than me.
“We’d love to know more about you. I’d hate to think we only know you for your bad days,” insisted Gertie.
Celeste scoffed in the corner, and before I realized what I was doing, my hand jumped into Dom’s lap, squeezing his leg so he wouldn’t look toward her.
Instead, he nearly jumped out of his seat.
A few more amused expressions stared, hinging on this entire interaction as Dom’s cheeks turned a bright red. He cleared his throat. “I appreciate that. There isn’t much to tell though really. I met Ana last summer, as I’m sure you all know.”
