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“Oh, there you guys are.” Raven comes around the corner. “Natalie sent me to get you.” Her eyes go from me to Brett, a knowing smile on her face. “We’re outside on the patio.” She points, then walks around us.
Jesus, I need to pull myself together. Next thing you know, I’ll be thinking I’m in love with him, and that can’t happen.
“Let’s get this over with,” he grumbles, taking my hand.
“Oh, Brett.” His mom turns as we come out the French doors to an outside patio encased in wisteria. Small bistro lights hang from the rafters. Bottles of wine, along with bread and olive oil, are set up on a large table covered in a colorful tablecloth.
“Look at what Raven and Jett brought back from Italy.” She turns in her chair, motioning to the table. An incredibly large charcuterie board filled with prosciutto, cheeses, and what looks like buffalo mozzarella and anchovies sits in the middle. The smell of fresh-baked bread fills the air, and it’s only then that I see the built-in, wood-fired oven with two baguettes in it. My eyes take in the full effect of the backyard. Gray stone leads out to the pool, succulent plants spill out of the large pots, and is that a putting green?
“You baked bread?” Brett sounds shocked as he holds the chair for me.
“No, Chef Chris dropped the bread off this morning. I can’t seem to master that yet.” She sighs, then smiles at me kindly.
“I really love your house.”
“Aw, thank you. It’s taken me thirty years to get it this way, and now Charlie is trying to talk me in to moving to the beach.” She takes a sip of her wine.
“What’d I do now?” Brett’s dad grumbles as he and Raven walk out.
“Charlie, don’t you dare put that game on,” Natalie snaps, and he bursts into laughter as a television rises up out of what I thought was a bench to our left. He gives her a kiss on the top of her head.
“It’s the last ten minutes.” They stare at each other, then she rolls her eyes and waves her hand.
“No volume.”
“As you wish.” His lips twitch, and he sits down at the head of the table.
“So now that we are all here, let’s hear all about the honeymoon.” Natalie sings the last part as she reaches over to cut some cheese before slathering it on a slice of bread.
“Should I tell, or you?” Raven straightens, smiling into Jett’s eyes.
His hand caresses her hair as if it’s the most natural thing to do. “Well,you,of course.” He looks at her like she walks on water. Jesus, he worships her.
I look down at the table, feeling like a voyeur. Because it hurts to watch them. Which is terrible. I should be happy for people who are in love, not jealous. But I want that. I want Brett to look at me the way Jett looks at Raven. Brett’s tan arm reaches over me for a bottle of red wine, and he pours a glass for me and one for himself.
“It was absolutely beyond amazing. Half the time I thought I was dreaming it was so perfect.” Raven proceeds to tell us in detail about all the places they went. The food they ate, the romantic sunsets… apparently, they’ve been all around Europe on a yacht this past month.
Plates full of Natalie’s spaghetti and meatballs are served as everyone laughs and talks, and I sit soaking it up like a sponge. Clearly, Brett loves his family and is super close with them. I gaze at him sitting in his chair, his arm casually on the back of mine as he laughs at something his dad said.
And there goes my heart again. I’m so focused on Brett I’m not even listening to the conversation anymore.
“Alexandrea?”
My eyes shift to his mom, who sits with her hands under her chin, clearly waiting for my answer to a question I did not hear.
“Sorry, what was that?” My face burns, and I can tell they all know I was staring at Brett.
“I asked you where you’re from.” She leans back as a member of her staff removes her plate.
“Oh, well.” I sit up and lick my lips. “I’m originally from Ohio, and I have a twin brother whom I miss terribly, but I’m really proud of him because he got a full-ride football scholarship to Ohio State, so…”
“Really?” Brett’s dad reaches for more wine. “I’m a huge college football fan. What position?”
“He’s a quarterback. But he’s a freshman, so I don’t think he’s had much playing time yet–”
“Your twin is Jude Carter?” he asks as the whole table goes silent.
Brett’s hand tightens on my shoulder.
