“Of which there are plenty.” Lily giggles. I point my finger at her.
“Listen, just because you’re with Jude now doesn’t mean I don’t still see you as another little sister. Which means you’re not immune to my retaliation, Lily pad.”
She rolls her eyes, but then the door opens, and Max and Heidi walk in. It’s not often they can make it to dinner, given both their schedules as doctors at Westport General Hospital, so everyone stops what they’re doing to say hi.
I don’t miss Max’s face when he’s introduced to Tori, or the look he flashes my way, but I sure as hell don’t dwell on it, either.
Pretty soon, Heidi’s joined the rest of the women in a conversation that seems to have moved on from books to some pregnancy photoshoot Kat and Hunter have planned. I make my way into the kitchen just in time to see my mom and Beckett set the final platter of food on the large kitchen island where we’ll dish out dinner.
“That smells amazing, Mom,” I say, my mouth already watering. “Oh, but can you hold off on the cilantro in the pasta salad? Tori doesn’t like it.”
Mom’s hand freezes above the dish in question. “Of course, thanks for letting me know.” She puts it in a separate bowl instead, setting it beside the salad. “Can you call everyone in?”
Dinner at our house has always been chaotic, but with the addition of a husband, girlfriend, wife, and fiancée, it’s madness. My mom reigns over it all with an undoubtedly satisfied smile. She’s loving watching our family expand, and I know she holds out hope I’ll be adding to it soon, as well. Let’s face it, that’s probably the reason she was so pleased when I told her I invited Tori and Cooper tonight.
Watching them settle in at the table, Cooper happily ensconced on the other side of Tori with Hunter next to him, I do have to reluctantly admit, it feels right having them here. But like, in aI’m glad I invited themkind of way, nothing more… I think.
But as Tori talks animatedly with my dad, for probably the first time ever, I let myself imagine what would be different if Tori wasn’t just a friend. If she was someone special. And the thing is? The only difference I can come up with is that I’d be able to hold her hand and kiss her without my family freaking the fuck out.
That realization has me shifting in my seat and then lifting my arm to drape it casually across the back of Tori’s chair. I feel her body freeze when my fingers drift along the back of her neck, but I don’t acknowledge it, forcing myself to carry on my conversation with Max and Heidi.
Fuck, it feels good to touch her.
After we’ve demolished the mountain of food my mom made, everyone migrates back to the living room. But Cooper’s noticeably yawning as he carries his plate to the kitchen where Beckett and Cam are helping with the dishes.
“I think I better get him home,” Tori says softly.
Mom touches her shoulder. “He’s a wonderful boy, Tori. I’m so glad you both joined us, and you’re welcome back any time.”
“I’ll walk you and Coopzilla out,” I offer. We gather up their stuff, everyone says goodbye, and then I walk them to their car parked at the end of the driveway. Once Cooper’s buckled in the back seat, I lead Tori around the back of her car, pausing to glance up at the house before dipping down and kissing her.
It’s too short, too chaste, and I want so much more. But now’s not the time. Not with her kid and my family right here. Instead, I walk her around to her door, hold it open, then crouch down to look at Coop in the back seat, then back to her.
“Goodnight, you two. Drive safe.”
“Night, Sawyer,” Cooper says sleepily. “Your family is cool for a bunch of grown-ups.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, little dude, they thought you were cool, too.”
He nods, his eyes already drooping shut. I turn to Tori, resting my hand on her thigh. “Goodnight, angel.”
“Goodnight,” she murmurs, her eyes searching mine. “Tonight was fun.”
I squeeze her leg, then stand up. “See you soon.” I wink, then close her door, standing there until they back out of the driveway and head down the street. Only then do I go back inside to face the firing squad.
Sure enough, all of my siblings are looking at the front door as I walk in, some with smirks and some with stupid knowing looks, even though they’d be wrong, no matter what they’re thinking. My dad is studiously looking at a magazine and Mom is nowhere in sight.
“What?” I say, staring at each of them, daring them to say something. But smartly, no one does. “I’m gonna head out, too. I need to go to the station for a meeting early tomorrow morning.” I gather my stuff, say goodbye to my dad, and give a reluctant wave to my siblings.
Then, I move to the front door, Mom following me. That alone isn’t too unusual, but to my total shock, my mother, all five-foot-whatever of her, reaches up on her tiptoes to cuff me around the side of the head. Glaring at me as she sinks back down, she places her hands firmly on her hips, and says, “Listen to me, Sawyer Donnelly. You need to pull your head out of your ass and realize what you have right in front of you before someone else comes along and takes it away.”
After that, she holds open the door and gestures for me to leave. Behind her, I can see the rest of my family barely holding it together, as if they’re all in on some big secret I’ve been left out of.
I stumble out the door and down to my truck, drive home on autopilot, and let myself inside my apartment. Only then do I say the words I’ve been holding in since leaving my childhood home.
“What the fuck do I do now?”
Chapter twenty-three
