Page 112 of Break Points and Face Offs

“He’s not my type, hon, but he’ll do just fine for Will.” Dad chuckles as he heads into the kitchen.

“Let him go, Ma. You’re embarrassing him. He won’t wanna come round here again.”

I know that last part isn’t true—or at least, I hope it isn’t—but a little bubble of nerves still makes its way to the surface.

I don’t expect him to reassure him me, but he turns to me anyway. “Don’t worry, I will.”

Ma practically explodes as she holds back a squeal.

“Okay, who’s corny now?” I grin.

We pack our things away and start dinner so it’ll be ready for when the kids get home. They’re getting a ride from one of the other parents so Ma and my dad could be here to greet us when we arrived.

Ally and Chase jump on me the second they step through the door. They ask Priestley a hundred and one questions.

When my aunts and uncles arrive, we have to get chairs from wherever we can find them and squeeze them in, piling mashed potatoes onto their plates. I look at Priestley to make sure he’s okay, but he’s engrossed in a conversation about the Bruins game with my dad so I leave them be.

I don’t get him alone for even a second until everyone’s clearing their plates away and going into the living room to watch the game.

“Hey,” I pull him back by the wrist, enjoying the sensation of his smooth skin against mine. I manage to steal a quick kiss before anyone sees—not that they’d care. I just can’t handle them all cooing over us again.

“Do you think they like me?”

“Are you serious? They fucking love you.”

His face lights up. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” I can’t help myself, I grab his face and kiss him again.

Someone jostles into us and we break apart. “Don’t mind me kids, just forgot my cigarettes,” My aunt says, squeezing past.

“I told you not to bring those cancer sticks in here!” Dad shouts to her.

She waves the comment away. Before she steps out onto the porch, she grins at us.

“Aww,” she says. “Young love.”

The living room is hectic, everyone fighting for seats to watch the Bruins game. Ma’s letting Aunt Deb smoke out the kitchen window. I don’t think Dad’s noticed yet. He’s too busy having a debate with the kids about who’s gonna score the most goals tonight. I’m not exactly happy about people smoking around my ma, either, but she’s a grown woman and I’m not gonna get between her and her sister.

“We don’t have to watch the game,” I tell Priestley as we take a seat on the floor. Aunt Linda tries to rest her foot on my knee and I push it away.

“I want to,” he says.

“Really? You like this chaos?”

“Yes.” He nods. “It’s actually perfect.”

When the game finally starts, Deb comes in, stinking of smoke. Dad squints at her.

I can’t focus on the game. I’m too busy staring at Priestley from the corner of my eye. Who would have thought the asshole I met that first day at Princeton would be sitting on my living room floor watching a hockey game and getting my entire family to fall in love with him?

When Ma goes to check on the snacks she put in the oven, I follow her into the kitchen. .

We get the mini pizzas out and put them on a big serving plate.

“Thanks, Ma.”

“It’s just frozen pizza. No big deal.”