Page 161 of Lucky Mother Pucker

Matteo walks off.

“Where’s Jeff?” I ask Zoey.

“He’s spending the day with his family,” she says.

“Will you get to see each other today?”

She shakes her head. “No, but it’s okay. He’ll be with me at Christmas.” She smiles. “Are you coming to Christmas with Leo too?”

“Oh, um. I’m not sure yet.” Hope springs through my chest. I’d really like that.

I glance around the house, taking in how many people are here, how happy they all look. If this is what holidays are like in Leo’s family, I want to come to every single one.

But that’s a decidedly couple-y thing—spending every holiday together. And we’re not a couple.

I’ll be moved out of his house before Christmas too. Leo probably won’t even think to ask me to come over for the holidays.

I should really start touring apartments soon…

Instead of feeling excited, I’m sad and disappointed to leave Leo’s place.

This is what you wanted, remember? You need to move out. You need to be on your own.

“I’m gonna steal some of those mini crab cakes that the servers are walking around with,” Zoey says, pulling me back into the moment. “You want some?”

“Yeah, that sounds amazing. Thanks.”

She walks off, and I grab a washcloth and wipe down the counter so it doesn’t get sticky. This countertop looks like it’s made of a high-quality stone, and I don’t want to damage it.

I glance up at Leo’s mom’s house. I take a moment to soak in just how gorgeous and massive this place is. It looks like something out of a magazine. The floors are made of a sleek, pearly marble. And the open-concept design is the biggest I’ve ever seen. The living room, dining room, and kitchen occupy the same space, but it doesn’t feel crowded at all, even with so many people. Probably because the entire first floor is almost two thousand square feet.

Two long dining tables are set up in the middle of the space with what looks like expensive china and silverware. The massive cream-colored sectional in the living room looks like one of those expensive, custom-made cloud couches.

I gaze at the kitchen, where the caterers, servers, and Leo’s mom are. The countertops and island look like they’re made of the same beautiful marble as the floors. And all the stainless steel appliances look like they came straight out of a high-end restaurant. It’s like a gourmet chef’s dream kitchen.

I take a sip of my sangria, in awe of how nice it all is. At first, when I walked into the house with Leo, I was nervous. I thought his relatives and family friends would be rich snobs who turned their noses up at me.

But everyone I’ve met and talked to so far has been so warm and kind. Everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. And every single person has given me a hug. They’re all treating me like I’m an old friend.

A warm feeling swirls through me. I like it here. I like Leo’s family so much.

I think about that comment Leo made—about me coming here again next year for Thanksgiving.

I tried to play it cool, but on the inside I was freaking out…because that’s exactly what I want.

I want to be here with Leo and his family again next year…maybe as his girlfriend…

But then, that voice inside my head pipes up.

Don’t get your hopes up. This is who Leo is, remember? The guy who helps everyone, who goes out of his way for his friends. He was inviting you as his friend, nothing more.

Zoey walks over and sets two plates of appetizers in front of me. I smile at her, grateful for the distraction of food.

“I got the last of the crab cakes for us to share and some veggies with hummus.”

“This looks so yummy,” I say.

Together, we snack on the appetizers.