Page 78 of Then There Was You

I chuckle. “I figured as much.”

I follow him into the house and straight into the living room, dropping the bags by the large pile of gifts already under the tree. After a round of hellos, I sit down on the sofa next to Wyatt.

“I can’t believe this time next year there’s going to be a baby crawling around,” Mom says, grinning widely.

Sophie laughs and pats her stomach. “Neither can I.”

“Dinner smells great, Tessa,” Taylor says from the loveseat across the room. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” She smiles at her before her eyes flick to mine. “Seb, come and help me in the kitchen.”

I stand and follow her out of the living room and into the kitchen. I can’t cook for shit, so I’ve no idea why she’s asking for my help.

“Everything okay?” I ask when we get to the kitchen, but she makes no attempt to check on the food.

“Is Taylor okay?”

I frown. “Umm, yeah, I think so. Why?”

“She looked a little upset when she came in with Paisley.”

I blow out a breath. “She’s missing her mom.”

“I saw you hugging on the driveway. Is something going on with you two?”

“No, Mom. We’re friends and she needed a hug, that’s all,” I lie.

She narrows her eyes. “Okay,” she says slowly, and I can tell by the way she’s looking at me that she doesn’t believe me. “It must be a hard time of year for her. I’m glad she decided to spend it with us.”

I smile. “Me too.” I look around the kitchen. “So, did you need any help with the food?”

She laughs. “No, Seb. I wanted to check on Taylor. You’re useless in the kitchen.”

I feign hurt and clutch at my chest. “Ouch! That hurts.”

She rolls her eyes. “I think you’ll live.”

Taylor

Despite getting upset on the driveway when Seb and I arrived, I’m having the best time. Dinner was amazing, and I love the constant chatter and laughter that fills the room when everyone’s together. It’s easy to see how much this family loves each other, and I’m grateful I get to be a part of it, even for a little while.

“So, Ash. What happened last night with you and Ben? We want all the details,” Sophie says when Tessa and Henry are in the kitchen, and the rest of us are in the living room, stuffed from the three-course meal we’ve all eaten.

Paisley stiffens next to me, and although she and Nash have sorted things out after their argument this morning, I can’t imagine she wants it all brought up again. I lock eyes with Seb and subtly shake my head, hoping he knows not to give Ash a hard time about Ben.

“Nothing happened. We just had a drink,” she says, her eyes on her lap.

“Nothinghappened?” Sophie asks, her eyebrows raised in question.

She sighs. “I like him, but it’s complicated.” She looks at Nash, Seb, Wyatt, and Cade. “He’s my boss—”

“And he’s way too old for you,” Wyatt says, cutting her off.

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, he’s older, but if I met a guy my own age, you wouldn’t like that either.”

“That’s true,” Wyatt concedes.

She shrugs. “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t see me as anything other than a work colleague. A friend at best.”

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