9
Ethan opened the front door to his parents’ place for their standing family dinner.
“Knock knock,” he called as he entered the foyer. Voices drifted down the hallway, and he made his way to the dining room, where everyone was already gathered.
“Hey, honey,” his mom, Karen, said. He stepped over to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Then gave his dad, James, a side hug.
Noah sat at the table with his girlfriend, Jessa. Jackson sat across from Noah with his wife Mia, who was chatting animatedly with Jessa. Miles moved around the kitchen, helping their mom get dinner ready, while his daughter Emma sat at the table coloring.
“How have the hikes been going?” his dad asked.
The entire room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. He furrowed his eyebrows.
“They’re good. Why?”
A small smile crept across Mia’s lips.
Mother fucker.
Ethan turned accusatory eyes toward Jackson. “What did you tell them?”
“I only said that there’s a new gal in town staying at the resort, and she’s got a lot of hostility toward you.”
Mia giggled and clapped her hands together. “It’s like our very own reverse grumpy sunshine book! And did you tell them she might befamous?”
Mia frequently referenced books to go along with their everyday life, and today was no exception. Ethan tilted his head.
“A what now?”
“A reverse grumpy sunshine book. Jackson said she’s pretty crabby. But you’re very peppy.”
Ethan just blinked and shook his head. “There’s nothing going on between us. She’s a tourist and only here temporarily.”
“It’s your turn, man,” Jackson said.
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Might be Miles’s turn.”
“My what?” Miles asked.
Ethan threw a thumb over his shoulder at Jackson. “He has a theory that we are all going to end up with someone this year, since he and Noah did.”
“Are you going to find me a new mommy?” Emma asked.
The room quieted, and Miles threw a glare at everyone.
“Not today, honey. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. It’s just a coincidence they both found someone,” Miles said.
“Exactly,” Ethan said.
“And even then, you two already had each other on your radar. It just took you forever to finally hook up,” Miles said, tilting his head toward Jackson and Mia.
After their long friendship and constant flirting, the two of them had finally begun dating and fell in love. It only took several years for it to happen.
“I think it’s romantic. All my boys finding someone to settle down with,” Karen said.
Ethan rolled his eyes. “It’ll happen when it happens.”
Dishes were brought to the table, and they all sat down, going over the week’s activities as they ate dinner. They tried to keep work out of their discussions at dinner, but lately they had been short-staffed, so this was the perfect time for them to discuss anywhere that needed extra help. It was all hands on deck for the family to keep their bases covered. But the new hires would help ease the burden once everything was caught up.
