Twenty-Five #2
We have a West family tradition on Thanksgiving.
Eli
There’s a no cussing at the dinner table rule. Always. Mom made it and Dad enforces it.
Maxwell
We normally make Dad happy and abide by the rule. But on Thanksgiving…
Eli
All bets are off.
Oliver
Literally every man for himself.
Maxwell
Whoever cusses first, has to buy everyone else pie at the diner Mom used to work at before she had us.
Eli
The old lady that has worked there forever makes the best pies.
AJ
I’ve never lost. Because they are idiots and so easy.
Rory
I feel like this won’t be that hard.
Mia
Oh. I’m going to win. See you soon losers! Also this diner better have cherry pie.
I look up from my phone at my brothers as we walk to Dad’s apartment. “I feel like we should be scared.”
“You. You should be scared.” Eli corrects and Maxwell laughs as he slaps my back.
We are all dressed basically the same. Jeans and black or dark grey henleys.
Eli has his sleeves pushed up, showcasing all the art that Devyn has marked his skin with.
His clear framed glasses are a stark contrast with the ink and metal decorating his ears.
Maxwell is clean shaven and his hair is getting a little longer, looking more like mine.
The only time Dad takes a family picture is on Thanksgiving.
It was mom’s favorite holiday because of the food.
He said that she used to take all the leftover pie and food from the diner to homeless shelters and serve it.
We reach the top of the stairs right outside of Dad’s apartment to meet AJ and Rory getting ready to go in.
She’s in jeans and an off the shoulder mint green sweater but her hair is down.
She’s been wearing it like that more often lately.
Rory greets my brothers with side hugs and holding a pie in one hand while AJ wraps her arms around me.
I reach out my hand to shake Rory’s, “Glad you are here. Where’s your mom?
” Rory and I have grown to be better friends.
It’s honestly still hard sometimes watching him live the life I thought I was supposed to have with fighting but he makes it hard to hold it against him.
He’s been the best thing to happen for AJ and that alone makes me thankful he is here. She deserves that.
“She’s on her way. Mia is picking her up.” He nods to where my brothers are going inside. “Let’s go eat.” He smiles big before wrapping his arm around AJ’s waist and leading her in.
I follow behind them and laugh when my dad snatches the pie out of Rory’s hand and pushes AJ away when she tries to steal it back.
“This is mine now.” He points to Rory, “He’s your boyfriend. He should have made you your own.” He holds the pie even higher and laughs while AJ jumps still coming up short.
“I did. She already ate half of it before we left.” Rory takes the pie and moves it to the kitchen while Dad and AJ stand off just staring at each other.
“Ready for me to kick your ass at Scrabble tonight?” AJ grins at him. I lean against the wall and just watch. I’ll give fifteen minutes of them playing before she guesses he’s been playing without her.
“Tonight isn’t your night, Av.” Dad says confidently. But AJ isn’t shaken in the slightest. She’s brilliant and I have no doubt that she will still win against him.
“I brought the mashed potatoes!” Melinda’s voice carries from the doorway.
She’s wearing a simple dress and cardigan, her dark hair neatly curled, and the warmest smile on her face.
I’ve always loved Melinda. She just makes every room brighter.
I rush over to take the large container from her just as Mia steps in behind her carrying a tray three times bigger than her head of small sandwiches and fruit and veggies.
I take the tray from her too and quickly have to readjust my grip because I nearly drop it.
She’s in a small black leather skirt, and a cherry red shirt that is tucked in but not a single button is fastened.
Every inch of skin bare from the base of her neck trailing between her breasts to where the fabric of the skirt is.
Her hair is neater than normal but still curly.
She’s so breathtaking that I forget how to swallow.
“Hey, Ol.” She smiles sweetly in thanks as she nods at the tray I’m holding.
“Hey, pretty girl.” I lean down and kiss her cheek, letting my lips rest a little too long. I pull back and openly stare at her. I can’t help it.
“Stop looking at me like that.” She says knowingly.
“I’m not.” I grin.
Things have been really good this week. We worked on the house a little bit.
I had to threaten to throw her blush away when she tried to color the mismatched brick again.
She came to my fight that night. I won. I don’t lose when she is in the corner watching me.
It felt good, solid, having her there. Like she is meant to be there.
She and Eli worked on a new move for her women’s defense class. And her birthday is coming up. When we asked Max to help get it set up, he was more than happy. She has no idea it’s happening and I think AJ is excited for the first time ever over a surprise.
“Food is all here, let’s eat!” Maxwell calls out from where he is already holding his plate and in line to start getting food.
While we are at the table, I can’t help but covertly watch everyone but Dad and Melinda.
It’s not that any of us ever actually care to buy everyone pie.
It’s the losing we hate. And since I lost Assassin, my hunger to win tonight is strong.
No one has made a single joke, or attacked, or anything.
Which makes me weary. AJ is beside me on one side and Eli is on the other side.
Mia is directly across from me sitting next to Max.
AJ and Dad have been insulting each other the whole afternoon and Rory is just happy to be here.
It’s nice having Melinda here too. To have a motherly presence is foreign but somehow she just makes us miss not having a mom a little less today.
“How did your meeting go with your partner, Melinda?” Dad asks across the table where Melinda is sitting. I watch her shoulders get a little stiffer and then drop.
“They emailed and asked to push it to mid December. Something about getting a board together and needing a little more time. I wish they would go ahead. The stress of not knowing if they are wanting to pull out or shut me down is killing my body.” I can hear the stress in her voice actually.
“The center is the most successful youth program I’ve ever seen.
I can’t imagine anyone wanting to shut it down.
” Mia assures her softly and then turns to my dad, “Eddie, this turkey is actually incredible. How did you make it?” Mia smiles over at Dad.
And to everyone else, she looks polite. But I know that smile.
She moves her hand to her lap as Dad is talking us through the new technique he tried this year.
She makes eye contact with AJ and I’m the only one that notices.
AJ’s lips twitch and I feel my pulse pick up a little.
They are up to something bad. Mia’s hand comes back up to reach across the table to grab her drink and she looks over to me with an unwavering stare.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and watch her eyes flare when I reach for it.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I catch AJ side eye me and Mia is practically squirming in her seat even though she’s sitting still. I open her message and, “fuck me.” The words fall from my lips before I have a coherent thought to even try and stop them.