Chapter 2 #2
I scoop up the serving dish and take it to the dining room.
The table is set with the nice plates. She even pulled out the fancy cloth napkins and folded them with her brass leaf napkin rings.
When it’s just us, we eat at the kitchen table.
That included Cole in the past, but I guess Mom’s itching to host before the holidays are fully underway.
The front door opens, letting in a chill. Benson comes in alone, jerking his chin in a nod while unwinding the colorful scarf I knit for him last winter. He’s got Mom’s blue eyes and thick brown Lombard hair, like me.
“‘Sup?”
Tossing a glance over my shoulder to make sure our parents are distracted, I skirt around the table and give his arm a soft jab.
“Dude. Way to not give me any warnings.”
Some things never change. We might be older, but we’re still siblings. We love each other in our own way and growing into adulthood hasn’t changed that. One minute we’ll be squabbling like we’re in Lord of the Flies, the next we’re united and raising hell together.
He rubs his arm, unbothered. “Warning about what?”
I roll my eyes as he steals roasted carrots out of the bowl. “Why didn’t you tell me Cole was coming back?”
“It all went down pretty quick. I just found out a few days ago when he texted to see if I’d be around to pick him up from the airport and help him move in. And he only brought two big duffle bags, so we were done in about five minutes.” He shrugs. “Left us time to drink and catch up.”
A sigh escapes me. I suppose I haven’t always known what they were up to.
“No Jess tonight?” I flick his hand when he goes to snack on more of the spread.
“She had to fly out to meet with one of our new distributors. She comes back this weekend.” He pretends to search the room. “No Shawn? Good.”
What I had with my on-again-off-again boyfriend has never been like what my brother has with his wife. That kind of love is special. They’re supportive of each other and they worked together to create their dream by opening a microbrewery.
I bite my lip. “Yeah, we’re not—uh. Together anymore. As of today.”
It feels good to tell someone rather than bottle it up. Sometimes I keep things to myself so I’m not unloading on everyone around me, but my brother’s seen me through more than one breakup, including whenever things with Shawn have ended.
Benson’s amused smirk drops. “Shit. Sorry. Are you okay?”
“I will be. Thanks, Benny.”
“I stand by it, I’ve always thought that guy sucked. You deserve so much better than him.” He holds up a case of bottles with the brewery’s logo and drapes an arm over my shoulders to squeeze me. “I brought something that’ll cheer you up. Your favorite fall cider.”
My lips twist into a smile. “That does make my day a little less shitty.”
He leads me into the kitchen, breaking away once he hands me a cider to put the rest in the fridge. When he’s done, he moves to chill by Cole’s side. I drift to stand next to Dad. He takes the bottle from me to pop the cap.
“I can open my own bottles.” My cheeks heat when I accept the drink.
He shrugs. “Sorry. Helping your kid is a habit that’s hard to turn off. I still remember teaching you to ride a bike and tying your first pair of skates when you demanded to come to work with me.”
“Dad,” I complain. “Seriously. Do we always have to rehash the life stories when I point out I’m not a kid anymore?”
Cole releases a husky laugh that makes everything worse because of the pleasant tingle it stirs in the pit of my stomach mixed with embarrassment.
“What?” Dad gestures to him. “Cole knows. He’s like family. That’s why we had to welcome him back with a meal.”
“Thanks, Mr. Lombard. I appreciate the invite.”
“Son, I told you. Call me David.”
Cole nods ruefully. “Right. Tricky to get used to after only calling you Mr. L growing up.”
This day needs to end. I hang my head back and take a sip, enjoying the hard cider’s tart burst on my tongue.
“Cole, it’s so nice to have you back with us,” Mom gushes. “It felt like I lost one of my own when you went so far away for school.”
“What about your actual kids?” Benson jokes wryly. “We’re still here.”
“Seems you might never leave.” The sarcasm only lasts a moment before she bustles around the room with a crushing hug for all three of us. “And I hope none of you ever do. Stay close, right where I like you.”
Benson claps Cole on the shoulder. “Send your parents my apologies because Mom’s ready to sign the adoption papers and make this official.”
Cole’s deep laugh fills the room, piercing through me at the same moment I catch his eye. The corner of his mouth quirks higher in a smile that feels like it’s just for me.
Oh no, he’s still hot.
Correction, he’s so much hotter now. He’s broader in the shoulders and chest than the last time I saw him.
The rolled up sleeves of his flannel hug those corded forearms like their lives depend on it.
If I was the threads of those cuffs, I would be hanging on for dear life, too.
With the defined jawline that gives him an edge of ruggedness and his comforting green eyes, he’s a six foot two walking temptation.
I gulp as my old crush roars back to life. He’s all grown up and my fluttering heart might not survive this family dinner. Memories flicker, unspooling in my head with all the reminders of how much I liked him in secret.
Playing street hockey in the summer with him and Benson.
The time he told me I looked pretty in my Homecoming dress and I hoped he couldn’t tell I was blushing.
Going to their hockey games in high school and watching him the entire time.
The first time he called me Evie when we were joking around and it made my stomach fill with butterflies.
Did these feelings for him ever truly go away?
No. But I’ve always hated admitting it to myself.
Because one thing’s always been true when it comes to my brother’s best friend: Cole Kincaid will never be mine.
I’ve hidden my stubborn crush because it won’t amount to anything. It didn’t when he grew up in Heston Lake, and it won’t now.
Resigned to that fact, I follow everyone to the dinner table when Mom ushers us there. She leans close before we sit down.
“Are you okay? You’re so quiet tonight.”
“Yeah, just tired. I’ll be fine.”
Mom studies me with a small frown. Blurting out my breakup news at the dinner table is a big no from me. Especially while Cole’s here.
It’s not too surprising she noticed I’m off tonight. Typically I’m bright and bubbly.
This evening has been a lot at once and I’m close to hitting my threshold. It’s easier to retreat inside my head to deal with it all.
Benson saves me. “Jeez, Ma. Did you save any food to make for Thanksgiving?”
“Like you won’t eat it.” She clicks her tongue. “You might not be a teenager anymore, Benson, but you still have enough appetite to eat your father and I out of house and home.”
When Mom isn’t looking at me, I nod to him in thanks. The edge of his mouth lifts.
I muster a reassuring smile. “Everything looks great, Mom.”
She lets it go for now. I’ll talk to her when I’m ready. Benson and Dad take their usual seats, leaving me sitting across from Cole when I find mine.
As much as I want to endure this family dinner by turning invisible, he won’t let me. He glances at me and makes attempts to include me in conversations the entire time.
Why does the universe hate me today?