AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I looked up at Theo, lifted my brows.
His eyes dropped to mine, mouth curved, but only for a beat because he was too focused on his sister and Levi.
And planning murder.
Dommie was doing the same, not bothering to acknowledge Walker as she accepted the bowl, started slopping potatoes onto her plate.
I smiled. “Can I have some too?” I asked after she’d loaded about a gallon of them onto the festive-patterned porcelain.
Impressive self-control.
Because she didn’t launch the bowl across the table at me.
She just thrust it over the ham and stuffing and deviled eggs, passed it across the Christmas fixings.
And promised payback.
“Love you,” I mouthed.
She glared, but her expression softened and she sighed then mouthed, “I love you too, sissy.”
I scooped up potatoes, loading some onto Theo’s plate, then passed it down to Theo’s mom, Emily, who winked at me as she took the bowl.
Winked because she was in on the surprise—because, of course she was.
My mother-in-law was capable, organized, and nosy.
She was the perfect accomplice.
I winked back, dug into my potatoes, and looked around the table at my family—my brothers and sister, Theo’s sisters (and the aforementioned über-confident boyfriend), Theo’s mother and stepdad, and Walker.
Because he was close to Theo.
And also…Dommie.
Fighting a smile, I mentally shook my head, shoved some potatoes into my mouth so I didn’t say something snarky, and focused on the conversation that started up, Emily—thankfully—taking charge.
She asked Gabe about art school then Jer about his plans for college.
My youngest brother graduated with honors, but Jer didn’t know what he wanted to do, career-wise, so he was taking a gap year—something that Lana wanted to do…and something that wasn’t going to happen if Emily and Roger had anything to say about it.
Which they did.
Because they were paying.
Luckily, Lana was smart enough to clue in, and dropped the idea, and pretty soon we were talking hockey and Levi’s plans, hockey and the Breakers’ prospects, hockey and how I was liking my position as the team’s color commentator, and hockey and how Dommie was feeling with her bakery business being asked to fill a food stall at the Breakers’ stadium.
Dommie’s Cookies had begun as a side project to make some quick cash, the owner of the bakery she worked at in high school, letting her use the kitchen space for free so long as my sister provided ingredients, cleaned up, and worked the morning shift (one that was notoriously hard to get young people to show up for). Now Dommie had bought out a partner’s share of the bakery, was going to be featured in a freaking stadium,andshe was taking college classes toward her business degree.
My sister kicked serious ass, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Even if her eyes still threatened murder.
I bent and squeezed her shoulder as I rounded the table, starting to collect dirty dishes, ordering everyone to stay put because I was just making room for dessert.
And checking on Theo’s Christmas present.
Emily didn’t listen, of course.
