“I invited Tori and Cooper to family dinner.” I set down the bottles of wine I bought on the way over. “Why do you sound horrified?”
“Not horrified, shocked. Surprised. In disbelief.”
I look at my pregnant sister with confusion. “Why? I invited a friend to dinner. Is that seriously a big deal?”
Kat moves around the kitchen counter to stand next to me. “You invited afemalefriend and her kid to dinner. Yeah, it’s a big deal. You’ve never invited anyone to family dinner. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Tori’s amazing, but…” She grabs my arm. “Oh my God, are you dating her?”
“Shh,” I peel her hand off and glare at her. “Don’t be crazy. I don’t date. We’re friends.”
Why the hell does my family insist on seeing something that doesn’t exist? They know how I feel about relationships. They can’t just let it go and accept that I have a friend who happens to be a woman?
A woman I’m fucking every chance I can get. A woman I can’t seem to stop thinking about. But that doesn’t mean anything. Or does it? Shit, now they’ve got me overthinking things.
“Just friends,” Kat says enigmatically, a bizarre expression on her face. “We’ll see.” She walks off, her hands resting on her belly.
My mom bustles in from the garage where she was getting something she needed for dinner, and I’m glad she missed that annoying conversation. “Hi honey. Oh, is that the wine? You’re a doll.” She lifts the three bottles in turn before choosing one and looking at me. “How about you open that and pour some.”
“Sure.” I make quick work of removing the cork and pour a glass for her first. “You’re okay that I invited Tori and her kid for dinner, right?” I might be poking the hornet’s nest, but one thing Kat said did stick out. I haven’t ever invited someone to dinner, and the last thing I need is my mother getting the wrong idea.
Mom gives me a look. “Of course, I’m fine with it. The more the merrier, that’s always been my attitude. I think it’s lovely you thought to include her, and I’m looking forward to meeting them both.”
There’s a lot unsaid in her words, and I’m no fool. “Mom. We’re just friends.” Except, this time when I say it, the words don’t land as solidly as they should.
“Mm-hmm.” She gives an innocent-looking smile. “Hand me the pepper, please.”
I pass it over just as the doorbell rings. Seeing as my siblings don’t bother with it, they just walk in, it’s gotta be Tori and Cooper.
I make my way to the front door, dodging Kat, who’s trying to beat me there, and pull it open with a wide grin. “Welcome to Casa De Donnelly!”
I go through my handshake with Cooper, then move to pull Tori in for a hug, catching myself at the last second when I see the wide look of surprise on her face.
“Hi,” she says softly as I step to the side and she walks past me.
God, I want to kiss her. I can’t, not in front of everyone, but I want to.
I make the introductions and set Cooper up to play happily with the giant bin of LEGOs my mom saved from when all of us boys were kids. When I find Tori again, she’s in the middle of the cluster of my brothers’ partners, all of them giggling over something.
“What are they gabbing about?” I ask Jude, dropping onto the couch beside him.
“I heard something about books and tuned out,” he grumbles.
The grin that feels permanently etched on my face whenever Tori’s around widens. “Ahh. They must know who she is.”
Jude raises his eyebrows. “What?”
I incline my head toward the women. “Tori’s a romance author. She writes some seriously spicy shit. I’m betting that’s what they’re talking about.”
“And you know thishow, exactly?” he asks wryly.
Nope, not answering that.“I’m gonna get a beer.” I stand up, ignoring my brother. But I don’t miss his gruff chuckle as I walk away.
Beer in hand, I grab a glass of wine for Tori, and head over to the group of women.
“Where’s my drink?” Cam says, arching a brow.
“You’ve got a husband that can get yours. Besides, I only have two hands.” I hand Tori the glass of wine with a wink. “You doing okay? They aren’t telling you too many horrible stories about me, are they?”
“Just the embarrassing ones,” Kat pipes up.
