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Their gazes instantly fix on me, and everyone stops what they're doing to stare. I nervously wave before clearing my throat, feeling a bit self-conscious about the impromptu meeting.
"Hi, I'm Sutton," I offer with a friendly smile, trying to quell my nervousness.
Lincoln's mom, Julie, jumps up excitedly and rushes toward me. "Hi, I'm Julie. Nice to meet you!" she exclaims before pulling me into a warm hug.
I expect her to release me, but she leaves an arm around my shoulder as she turns to address Lincoln and his dad. The attention on me causes my skin to flush, and I catch Lincoln's smile in response. He rounds the island to gently pull me out of his mom's embrace.
"Why are you manhandling her this early in the morning?" he teases.
Julie smiles knowingly. "Why are you hogging her all to yourself?"
"She's my guest," Lincoln playfully retorts to his mom, his arm around my waist as he pulls out a chair next to his dad and encourages me to sit.
"A guest in my house," Julie quips, taking a long sip of her coffee with a satisfied grin.
Lincoln pays little attention to his mother's playful banter as he focuses on pouring me a glass of water and plating eggs and toast.
Julie, however, isn't quite done with her teasing. "Where did Sutton sleep last night?" she asks with a sly smile.
Lincoln doesn't miss a beat. "The same place she'll be sleeping tonight."
Julie raises an eyebrow and turns to her husband. "What do you think about that?"
His dad chuckles. "He's almost twenty-one. I think it's a great test of responsibility. If I'm a grandfather nine months from now, we'll know we went wrong somewhere."
The unexpected turn in the conversation makes me blush, but I can't help but smile at the humor and warmth in their family dynamic.
Lincoln appears rightfully horrified by the conversation. "What's with you and Ronan putting that out into the universe? Don't say things like that!"
I'm so flustered by their lively exchange that I inadvertently let water go down the wrong pipe, causing me to choke. A large hand lands on my back, attempting to help me out.
I'm stunned by the fact that Lincoln's dad is patting me on the back like I'm a small child.
"I'm glad you're here," he says, leaning closer to me. "Even if witnessing our shitshow almost killed you."
I clear my throat, regaining my composure. "Thank you for letting me stay here."
As we all sit around the island to eat breakfast, I find myself fielding a barrage of questions about myself and my life. By the end of breakfast, I've grown more comfortable with everyone, appreciating the unique dynamic of a typical family. It's a different experience for me, although I have immense love and respect for my own family.
His dad clears his throat, capturing my attention. "So, Lincoln mentioned that you have a brother."
Lincoln's expression sours as he interjects, "Why are you trying to act like you don't know who her brother is?"
"I didn't want to come off as rude!" his dad protests.
Lincoln retorts, "The question you want to ask is rude, no matter how you go about it."
Confused about the unfolding situation, I decide to intervene. "What's your question?"
His dad, unapologetic, gets straight to the point. "Could you get us tickets to a home game this season?"
I'm taken aback, as no one has ever asked me for something like that before. One of the advantages of not being outgoing is that I haven't had to worry about fake friends or people using me for personal gain. Leia has been my only friend throughout my life, and if anyone ever wanted seats at a game, they would typically ask her.
Lincoln can't hide his exasperation. "Dad! I told you not to ask. It's rude."
His dad, however, remains undeterred and looks at me hopefully. "Sutton, doesn't think I'm rude. Do you?"
I purse my lips, pretending to contemplate the question. "Maybe a little bit."
