I throw on one of my church dresses, a blue one—Mom says it matches my eyes, and I love it even more because it has pockets—smooth my wavy hair one last time, and hurry back to the kitchen where I find Mom and Mandy.
“There you are. I thought you’d dropped off the face of the planet or something.” Mom puts a pot on the stove and jerks a chin toward the living room. “Everyone else is in there.”
“I thought maybe I could help you guys out in here.”
They share a look before Mandy gives a small shake of her head. “Savannah, honey. We’ve got this covered. Why don’t you go hang out with Justin in the living room?”
As subtle as a low-flying blimp, Mrs. A. Thanks.
“But—”
“Mandy’s right, Savvy. Everything’s under control in here. Too many cooks spoil the broth and all that. Why don’t you go and make sure your sister isn’t driving poor Justin mad.”
Poor Justin, my ass. If anyone deserves to be driven crazy by Sophia, an excitable nine-year-old girl who is going through her “boys suck” phase, it’s him.
I lean on the doorframe to the living room taking in the situation. Dad’s sitting on the couch with Justin’s dad. They’re sipping on what looks to be craft beer of some kind chatting about hockey.
Justin and Soph sit cross-legged next to the coffee table playing Game of Life. Justin occasionally chirps up adding to the hockey discussion going on behind him, while somehow keeping up a conversation with my sister too. She appears to be over her “Ew. Ew. Ew. Boys suck” phase because tiny love hearts are popping out of the side of her head as she stares at him.
Something warm stirs in my stomach as he patiently waits for her to take her turn. She asks his opinion about something on the card she’s drawn and grins at him when she moves her piece. He’s engaged in the game and in her. He doesn’t seem at all bored or grumpy at the fact he’s hanging out and playing board games with a kid less than half his age.
“There you are, sweetheart.”
Dad’s voice makes me yelp in surprise.
He tips his beer at me with a grin. “Justin brought a couple six-packs of Spotted Cow. You know how I love craft beer.”
That I most certainly do.
Justin shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I usually bring home a few packs from my travels. I don’t always have time to visit the breweries and microbreweries themselves, but I’ve worked out where I can get mine and Dad’s favorites in most of the states we play in by now. I figured you can’t go wrong with bringing good beer when you’re crashing someone’s Thanksgiving plans.”
Dad chuckles and takes a sip before smacking his lips together. “Feel free to crash our Thanksgiving any time.” He raises his bottle to Justin, and I suppress another groan.
Mom and I have made it our life’s mission to find new and exciting craft beers for Dad to try over the years. Birthday, Father’s Day, Christmas—any excuse for a new beer for him to try. He’s had Spotted Cow before and loved it. Justin has unknowingly become one of Dad’s favorite people.
Dammit. With Mom and Mandy’s obvious desire to match-make Justin and me, I was kind of hoping Dad would be on my side.
Justin 2.
Savannah 0.
This can be fixed. I walk to the wall where my phone is charging in the far corner of the room and disconnect it.
Savvyanna: Hey Molster, long time no see. I’m in town for the holiday and was wondering if you’d like to hang out.
I almost fist-pump at my little victory and drop my phone in my pocket. A moment of grounding, a reminder of where my loyalties lie. That ought to do it. Talking to Molly will center me and renew the strength of my allegiance tether to my old friend.
It doesn’t matter that he’s gorgeous. It doesn’t matter that my little sister is looking at him like he’s the best thing since sliced bread. It doesn’t matter that he brought Dad one of his favorite craft beers, or that he helped Mom in the kitchen with the food prep.
Justin and Soph have turned their attention back to their game, and I’m itching to join them. Iloveboard games, and my parents have an extensive collection spanning back to their own time at college. We never miss a chance to pull out a box and let our competitive natures take over for a while. Especially when we have company visiting.
My feet carry me toward the coffee table, and I fold my legs under me as I drop to the floor next to Sophia.
“He’s pretty good,” she tells me with a sharp elbow to the ribs. Of course he is.
Justin puffs out his chest. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”
Soph grins and takes her turn. His mouth opens, closes, and opens again. And I can’t tell if he’s pretending to be a fish or if he’s got something on his mind he wants to talk about.
