Chapter 18
“Somebody’s in a good mood,” my mom chirps next to me. Her hands are buried deep in pie dough, her hazel eyes twinkling with curiosity as she watches me mirror her actions with my own dough.
I shrug casually, forcing my face to remain neutral, although it’s almost impossible. I am in a good mood, more so than what I’ve felt in months, and it has to do with the girl I spent my entire evening with.
That and because I love spending time with my mom.
“I’m always in a good mood when I get to spend time with you,” I reply, smiling cheekily as Mom rolls her eyes.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Tanner,” she teases, nudging me with her hip. “ I know when something’s going on with my kids.”
“What’s going on with who?” Brooke enters the kitchen before I can reply, picking up the whipped cream canister and spraying some in her mouth.
“Brooklyn Avery!” Mom scolds, pulling a hand from her bowl to reach for the canister. “There’s a whole separate can of whipped cream in the fridge for you!”
My sister’s eyes sparkle as she skips to the fridge, pulling it open excitedly. Sometimes, I forget she’s two years younger than me, especially when we’re back home with our parents.
Sunday get-togethers have been an ongoing tradition since both Brooke and I moved out. After I graduated from Harvard, I’d make the trip down twice a month, FaceTiming them on the weekends, but I couldn’t. It was never the same, but it never mattered to me as long as I spent time with them.
“So, what’re we talking about?” Brooke asks as she slides onto the bar stool across from us.
“Minding our business,” I quip, which causes Mom to shoot daggers at me before looking at Brooke.
“Doesn’t Tan look…happy?”
Brooke’s brows furrow as she gives me a once-over. “He looks ugly.”
“Thanks,” I reply dryly at the same time my mom exasperatedly says, “Brooklyn!”
My sister shrugs, still with furrowed brows. “I don’t know how he’d be so happy seeing all he does is work and go back to his apartment or harass me at mine.”
“That was literally one time, like, a month ago, and I was bored!”
“So you harass me?” she challenges despite the smile on her face. She regards me for a moment with a curious tilt of her head. “He does look happier, though…”
“Okay,” I drawl, about to argue why it’s perfectly acceptable to be in a good mood on a Sunday without any reason, when my phone vibrates on the counter behind me. I’m lifting my hands from the pie bowl to make sure the text isn’t related to work when Brooke hops off her stool and practically slides through the kitchen in her socks. I spin quickly, about to intercept, when she grabs my phone and runs back to her side of the island.
“Brooke!”
“Daisy Girl?” Her eyes flick between the screen and mine, a sinister smile appearing on her lips. “I knew you wouldn’t last six months.”
Heat floods my face, but I resume making the pie and avoiding the burning stares of my sister and mom. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—“
“Who’re we talking about?” Dad’s voice rumbles through the space. He eyes my sister and me suspiciously before softening when he meets my mom’s gaze. She smiles and leans towards the edge of the counter, waiting for Dad to approach, pressing a soft kiss against her lips.
“Hey, my love,” he murmurs.
My sister and I both blanch.
“Get a room,” we groan at the same time after watching Dad squeeze Mom’s ass, both of them chuckling as he pulls away. Mom’s bedroom eyes make Brooke and I exchange a look of terror before Dad rounds the island and drapes his arm over Brooke’s shoulder, pulling the canister of whipped cream from my sister’s grip.
He squeezes some into his mouth before sliding his gaze towards Mom’s and winking. “Who’re we talking about?”
I’m about to open my mouth and say nobody because we aren’t talking about anybody they need to know about, but my annoyingly rude sister pipes up. “Daisy Adams.”
Dad’s brows furrow as he rears his head. “What’s wrong with Daisy?”
There’s a slight hint of curiousity in his tone, and I can’t decide whether it’s because I’m talking about her outside of a work setting, or if it’s because he’s protective of the girl in question. I want to ask him more about their relationship, but I’m not sure it’s my place. If something happened to Daisy or she disclosed personal information to my dad, I want her to tell me when and if she’s ever comfortable.
Mom pulls her hands from the bowl and shoves them in her apron pocket, another curious expression on her face. Brooke smirks and leans her head against Dad’s, who doesn’t take his gaze from mine. There’s amusement in his eyes, like he’s already anticipating what I’m about to say before I get the chance.
The tips of my ears warm, and I run my tongue over my bottom lip. “We hung out last night, okay? Nothing happened besides her kicking my ass in Mario Kart.”
The shock lingers in the room, and I don’t think it’s because of who I was hanging out with, but rather that I was with a woman. I hadn’t necessarily sworn off women after my failed engagement, but I definitely convinced myself I didn’t have time for them. Daisy and I aren’t anything more than two people getting to know each other and fuck. I hope we continue getting to know one another.
Dad’s lips twitch, breaking the tension in the room when he speaks up. “She beat you in Mario Kart?” Amusement shines in his eyes, and Brooklyn snorts. I glance at my mom, who rolls her lips into her mouth but remains silent.
“Listen,” I begin, holding my hands up in surrender. “She’s pretty good.”
Dad makes a face of feigned betrayal. “We trained you better than that, son.”
Brooke laughs and rolls her eyes. Mario Kart is the family game that’s part of our Sunday routine. My sister and I used to be obsessed with it growing up, and our parents figured to join in as a way to do things together, considering we never wanted to hang out with them the older we got. When I wasn’t living here, I purchased the online subscription so I could still play online. It’s kind of the family thing.
“How did you two end up…talking?” Mom finally asks. She now has an indecipherable look on her face, but I can’t recognize it. She’s either genuinely curious, surprised, or maybe apprehensive. But either way, my mom will support whatever this thing is between Daisy and me as long as I’m happy and she treats me right.
“Uh,” I walk over to the sink, turn on the faucet, and run my hands under the water. “Ran into her and some friends at the bar while I was with Dec, Naomi, and Jase,” I say, turning off the water and reaching for the kitchen towel draped over the oven handle. “I ran into her again when I was getting coffee with Naomi yesterday and impulsively got Daisy’s number and…yeah.”
Mom hums appreciatively, sharing a look with Dad. “You must really like her—or at least be interested enough—to invite her over like that.”
I shrug and push off the counter, walking over to the island again. “She’s pretty cool, is all.”
“Cool is good,” Brooke finally pipes up but quickly turns her head and says lowly to Dad, “You owe me one hundred bucks.”
Mom and I exchange a look of surprise, and Dad smiles sheepishly.
“Duncan,” Mom shoots him a look. “You better not be betting on our son’s love life!”
“I’m not, dear,” Dad smirks, gesturing with his head to my sister. “She is.”
“I’m shocked,” I deadpan, flattening the crust against the pan. Brooke’s face softens.
“I’m not making fun of you or anything like that, Tan Tan. Promise. It’s just nice to see you take an interest in somebody again. I know last night was most likely just a hangout, but the fact that you put yourself out there is huge.”
I shrug, feeling myself getting embarrassed talking about this with my family, and wanting to drop it as quickly as possible. “Yeah, well. That’s all it was.”
“I know,” Brooke assures. “But Daisy’s pretty cool once you get to know her. So hopefully, she decides you’re not a lame-o.”
Mom exasperates, her eyes widening. “Brooklyn, be nice to your brother, for Christ’s Sake.”
I smirk, sticking my tongue out. “Yeah, Brooke. Be nice to me. I’m sensitive.”
“Oh, don’t worry. We know,” Brooke grins.
I swipe my hand on the counter and flick some remnants of dust towards my sister, and she shrieks before flying out of her chair.
“I’m going to set up Mario so you can brush up on your skills,” Dad says ruefully, turning on his heel to walk into the living room with Brooke following close behind. Mom and I finish filling our pies with both apple and raspberry filling before she layers them. Mom’s silence is contemplative, and I know this because she worries when Brooke or I have a potential someone in the picture. She’s always been good at letting us make our own decisions whether she agrees or not, but she wouldn’t be our mom without still vocalizing her concerns.
“So,” she says softly, as if she wants to keep the conversation between the two of us. “Daisy Adams, huh?”
I shrug. “It was just a hangout, Mom.”
She nods, picking up her pie and turning to walk towards the oven. “I’m sure it was,” she agrees. “But I still want you to be careful.”
I arch a brow and turn around, folding my arms across my chest, waiting.
After she slides the pie in the oven, she faces me with contemplation. “Do you like her?”
I jerk my head back, surprised she’s asking so directly but trying to remain composed anyway. “I think it’s too early to tell.”
Her face softens. “You’re my boy, through and through Tan. You know I don’t like to give opinions on what you and your sister do with your lives, but I don’t want to see you go through what you did with Yasmin.”
A bitter taste forms in my mouth at the mention of my ex. It was hard on my parents watching me go through what I did in my last relationship, and I understand the concern with my mom. I’m close to both of them, but I’m a momma’s boy down to the core, so her worry is valid. She was usually my go-to call for advice and insight because she’d give it to me straight. Not that my dad or sister wouldn’t, but I’m more inclined to listen to her.
My own face softens, regardless. “I know. But this was a one-time hangout, and it was just that. I’m taking whatever this is with Daisy slow and not expecting anything but friends.”
“Just be careful,” she says again. “I worry what will happen if that big heart of yours is broken again.”
“I know, Mom.”
“So, I’m sure this is a great heart-to-heart and all about Tanner’s poor life decisions, but Dad and I are going to start playing without you guys, and if you remember what happened the last time we did that…” Brooke appears in the kitchen again, her arms crossed with a smirk on her lips.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever live that black eye down,” I mutter, walking around the counter to follow my sister into the living room. Mom yells a quick, “Be right there!” before hurrying over, taking her place next to Dad on the couch. We all grab our controllers, pick our characters–Bowser for me, of course—and spend the next few hours laughing and hanging out. I love spending time with my family, but I can’t help but wonder what Daisy texted me about. I saw her last night, but she doesn’t appear to be somebody who reaches out just for the hell of it, especially with people she barely knows. A flicker of concern hits at once but is shoved down because the game is about to start. I’m tempted to step away to make sure she’s alright, but I have a nagging suspicion that she wants to talk just because. Her smile appears in my head, causing one to appear on my face.
Brooke nudges me. “Stop thinking about your girl and focus on the game.”
Dad chuckles, and I shake my head, choosing not to engage in that conversation right now. Daisy isn’t “my girl.” We’re friends.
But why do I want us to be more?