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While Mom, Sharon, and Willa help me get the finishing touches on dinner put together, Devin’s been charming my aunts and cousins. I don’t think Aunt Amber or Aunt Sam has left him alone since they walked through the front door. Not that I can blame them.
As we gather around the tables, my heart is the fullest it’s ever been. With how integral Devin’s been to my life, it’s so strange to think he hasn’t been a part of the craziness that is my whole family until now, that they don’t know him. Having Devin’s sister already be like a surrogate family is icing on the cake.
“We truly can’t thank all of you enough for showing up this weekend for Opening Day. Especially since we threw this together on a whim.” My gaze circles the group, amazed and blessed by how many people we have in our corner. “Let’s eat!”
Archer lifts his drink to his mouth, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s hard to believe when we met you were hellbent on using sports to pay for college and had no intention of continuing to play beyond school.”
“Yeah, I recall you chatting him up about majoring in computer science that first weekend.” Willa leans over to cut Briar’s fettuccini.
Dev chuckles. “I could have been a programmer.”
It’s Sharon’s turn to laugh. “You’ve never stayed still long enough to work a desk job in your life, Devin Hawthorne.”
Not true. My guy loves spending lazy days in bed with me whenever he can. Though, maybe they’re not so lazy.
Dev touches the back of my neck, squeezing. He reads me so well.
“You fit into our family well, Dev.” Mili raises a glass. “I think Myles is the only male in this family who would rather work than have fun.”
I hate that Myles is missing from this event, but it’s a Thursday, and he and Callum had college commitments with finals looming that kept them unavailable. While Esa is absent because he’s in Finland and we couldn’t ask him to travel all this way during his busy season at the market.
Mom wags a finger at Mili. “Make fun of him, Mil. You know Myles will be able to buy and sell us all someday. He’s too smart for his own good.”
“So, Dev, are we going to be able to meet some of your teammates tomorrow?” Cora changes the subject. “That Freddie Fraser is gorgeous.”
Mari hums in agreement, giving my younger sister a high-five.
“Yeah, no.” Dev and I answer in unison. The last thing I need is my baby sister or wild cousin hanging out with Sharks. One pro baller in the family is enough.
“I am sorry.” Uncle Olle relaxes back, draping his arm around Aunt Amber’s chair. “I have never been much of a sports fan, but I am excited about watching your game tomorrow.”
Amber leans forward, attention focused on Devin. “I don’t know how much Nova’s mentioned about our family, but Olle was born and raised in Finland. He’s warmed up to watching sports with his sons and Brett and Cole, but he’s more of a read and create art in solitude kind of man.”
“Olle makes blown glass,” I say. “We’ll have to have him make something for our house.”
“Yeah, your bracelet charm.” Devin’s eyes light, focus drawn to my wrist.
I smile. “That’s right. He is the genius behind my most prized possession.”
Uncle Olle offers a humbled smile, stroking a hand over his beard, but looks as if he wishes he was holed up in his workshop and not the center of our conversation.
“Just don’t ask him to make anything dirty. He won’t do it. You’ll have to ask Esa for that,” Leo jokes, making Olle frown and Amber and Mili giggle.
“Esa would not make—”
“Joseph,” I hiss, nodding toward Clementine sitting on my right.
His boyfriend, Davis, leans into my cousin’s side, his deep voice carrying even when he whispers, “What did she ask him to make?”
Dev’s eyes widen as he glances around the table. “Did you ask him to make you something…naughty?” His voice lowers onnaughty.
“You guys have the worst poker faces.” I point at the guilty parties, mainly every adult in my family, and Mili giggles harder. “In our defense, we didn’t even know what it was.”
“She and Mari—”
“Leonardo, you’ll hush if you know what’s good for you.” Mari tests the sharpness of the butter knife at her place setting.
“Can we discuss more suitable things?” Mom nudges Dad, who fights to keep his laugh undercover.
