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“Everything’s delicious,” I say, meeting Mimi’s eyes. “Best meal I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you, sweetie,” she beams.
After we’re stuffed to the brim, Mimi insists we each eat a slice of her peach pie with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.
“You can’t say no,” Everleigh whispers with a giggle. “It’shertradition.”
“Considering I know how you are with yours, I’ll gladly participate,” I reply.
I feel Tyler studying us, but he doesn’t say anything. I wonder how obvious our attraction is to everyone. If Annie noticed immediately, then there’s no way Tyler wouldn’t.
As Mimi sets our slices of pie in front of us, Everleigh places her hand on my thigh under the table. I gulp and wonder if she’s purposely trying to test my limits in front of her family. Gemma comes around and scoops ice cream onto everyone's plate. If Tyler knew how close his sister’s hand was to my dick right now, he’d lose his shit. I sit as still as I can, trying not to draw attention or let on how affected I am by her touch.
When Mimi returns from the kitchen, Everleigh’s hand disappears. She’s definitely trying to provoke me, and the fact that she's doing it with family around makes me think she likes having power over me.
After dessert, Mimi pulls out old photo albums of Tyler and Everleigh, mostly from when Everleigh was in high school, and tells me stories about each one.
“She’s always skipped to her own beat,” Gemma says as she watches next to me. “Look at this outfit! And here’s Tyler before boot camp! Wasn’t he a stud?” She giggles.
“Wow,” I say, noticing the jeans he was wearing. “You look like you should be in a boy band.”
“Thank God I grew out of that stage,” he says with a humorless laugh.
“That’s the boy I fell in love with all those years ago,” Gemma gushes.
We look at more pictures until Scarlett starts to get fussy, and I know our night’s coming to an end.
Everleigh starts yawning, and as predicted, we’re soon at the front door, saying our goodbyes.
“Come see us anytime, Archer. Our home is your home,” Mimi says, and Everleigh gives me a knowingI told you solook.
I’ve never felt so accepted, like I’m a part of a real family. I know Tyler and Everleigh didn’t have the best childhood either, but their grandparents' love for them is evident.
She sends us home with a week's worth of leftovers, and I can’t stop smiling at how welcoming and generous they were.
Once we’re in the car, Everleigh faces me. “Did you have a good time?”
“Actually, I did. Thank you.”
“For what?” she asks, confused.
“For inviting me and not treating me like an outsider.”
“I’d never, Archer. You’re one of us now—basically a Blackwood.”
I’m sure she doesn't realize it, but her words are music to my ears.
However, it’s just another reminder that Tyler sees me like a brother, and breaking that bond would ruin us both.
CHAPTERTWELVE
EVERLEIGH
Only two more days untilthis year is over. I tend to get wild without apology every New Year’s Eve. But right now, all I can think about is spending that night with Archer. I don’t know if he’d agree to hang out with me. I might need a little liquid courage to work up the nerve to ask.
He knows that I can be a bit much at times, and considering we’ve almost crossed the line on several occasions, he might say no.
I’ve been slowly putting away Christmas decorations all week, so it won’t be as taxing after the first. I went overboard, but I have no regrets. Every customer who walked through the door looked around and smiled.
