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“Yup,” I glare at my mom.
“You two play nice. I invited him to come for dessert.”
“What?” I shriek, my eyes widening.
“Bianca,” my dad warns.
“He was spending Thanksgiving alone. I insisted. No one should spend this holiday without loved ones. When he asked me for my pumpkin flan recipe, I gave him a better option—come eat it with us.”
My heart races with nerves. Why in the world would my mother invite him for dessert? She always loved Hudson, but she knows how hurt I was when we broke up. She could’ve just sent him a slice of dessert. But that’s not how she works. My mom has a big heart, the biggest I know, and her home is always open to anyone and everyone.
Why wouldn’t Hudson spend Thanksgiving with his parents? I figured he would since he’s in town.
“You’re right. No one should spend Thanksgiving alone, but…” My dad presses his lips together, glancing at me.
“No, it’s okay.” I shake my head.
“Since I saw you walking together at the festival, I assumed you’d be okay with it,” my mom frowns.
“It’s fine.” I plaster on a smile so that she doesn’t feel guilty. She has the best of intentions and maybe a dash of mischief. She always did love seeing Hudson and me together.
I try to focus on the conversation throughout the rest of dinner, but my mind is focused on the front door, anticipating a knock announcing Hudson’s arrival. Despite what it might look like from the outside, having him at this table doesn’t mean anything. We aren’t back in time when we were in a relationship.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” My mom smiles.
“Good. I forgot to tell you that I went with Hope to pay the deposit for the venue. It’s beautiful.”
“The wedding is at the Malcolm Manor, right?” my dad asks.
“Yes. It’s her dream venue. I had only seen pictures, but seeing it in person makes a huge difference.”
“I can imagine,” my mom sighs.
A knock at the door startles me, and my mom’s smile widens. She’s definitely up to no good.
“I’ll get it.” She pushes her chair back and stands.
When she’s out of earshot, my dad leans in. “Are you okay with this? You know your mom gets excited and makes impulsive decisions at times.”
“It’s fine, Dad. I’ve had to see more of him, so it’s okay.” I assure him with a small smile.
“Come in, come in,” I hear my mom’s excited voice from the foyer.
I take a deep breath in hopes that it slows the pounding in my chest. I don’t even know why I’m nervous. It’s not like it’s the first time I see him. We’ve had to talk and see each other. I saw him yesterday. But things went south after running into his parents. Not to mention his not-so-subtle hints about how he feels seeing me again.
I wish I could shake it off like Taylor Swift.
Hudson walks into the dining room with a smile. “Hello.” His eyes collide with mine immediately.
“Hi, Hudson.” My dad stands to shake his hand.
“Hello, Mr. Leon. I brought some sweet wine to drink with dessert.” Hudson lifts the bottle in his other hand.
“Sounds great. Why don’t you take a seat.” My dad motions to the empty chair next to me.
“Yes, please sit. We’ll clear the table and be ready for dessert in no time.” My mom smiles.
“Thank you, and no rush. Please finish eating.” Hudson smiles my way. “Hi, Lex.”
