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“You can’t take the boy out of him.”
Haden excuses himself to freshen up as I continue to help Presley in the kitchen. We talk about life, my sisters, and all the new authors they’ve just signed up. Presley is super excited about a new author whose series hit bestseller this week.
“You must read this series. I promise you that sleep is an afterthought once you sink your teeth into this baby.”
I press my lips together tightly. I’m not a reader of romances, preferring to lose myself in autobiographies.
“Is this one of your spicy recommendations? Because the last time you gave Mom something to read, Alexa caught her and Dad having sex in the jacuzzi.”
Presley tries her best to hide her smile but fails miserably. “That’s traumatic for Alexa.”
“And me,” I almost yell. “You try having your sister call you at midnight all freaked out. To make matters worse, Alexa snapped a photo which was thankfully blurry and sent it in our group chat.”
“Oh God, does Charlie know this?”
“Are you kidding me? We promised never to speak of it again. My parents have no self-control.”
With a sly grin, she nods in agreement. “Yeah, married couples. Annoying, aren’t they?”
We finish the food preparation but not before Presley makes me search for the book on Amazon. I download it to my Kindle, at least admiring the discreet cover, so it doesn’t look like I downloaded smut.
I grab four plates to take to the dining room when Presley stops me. “Oh, hun, grab another. Masen texted, and he’ll be here soon.”
“Oh, sure.”
Just. Fucking. Great.
I’m unable to recall the last time I saw Masen. Every major family event we had, like my sisters’ weddings, he’s been out of the country traveling for work. If my memory serves me correctly, maybe it was at Cruz’s high school graduation a few years ago.
Either way, his presence will challenge me. That’s if he’s anything like I remember him.
I set the table with the plates in hand as Haden and Cruz walk in arguing, of course.
“C’mon, Dad. It’s all in or nothing. You said it yourself, I’m skilled, and if Coach thinks I have what it takes.”
“Look, Cruz, having options doesn’t hurt. It’s competitive, and I just think you need to keep all your options open.”
Presley looks at me, keeping quiet, not getting caught in the same argument again. The thing is, I understand Haden wanting Cruz to keep his options open. But, of course, Cruz is a loyal person, and his heart is to play here in LA and not get drafted elsewhere.
“Can we sit down and have a peaceful dinner?” Presley asks in a calm tone. “We have a guest.”
“Addy is family, Mom.”
I smile at him because being around the Coopers feels exactly like that in so many ways.
Haden and Cruz continue a more amicable conversation as Presley suggests we wait a few more minutes.
“Mom, I’m starving,” Cruz complains.
“Honestly Cruz, you’re always starving. When you were a kid—”
Presley is cut off as someone clears their throat. I turn around quickly, my gaze locking into the hazel orbs staring back at me. My chest tightens, unsure why it’s happening or how it’s suddenly hard to breathe normally.
“Thank, fuck,” Cruz mumbles. “Can we eat now?”
Masen moves toward the seat across from me. Slowly, he removes his navy suit jacket and hangs it on the chair. Beneath the jacket, he wears a white business shirt with no tie. The top two buttons are undone, exposing a small bit of his chest. I shake my head, willing to look elsewhere.
“I didn’t realize we had company,” he says in a condescending tone.
