LAILAH #3
“Guys, it’s fine,” I said, not wanting to start a fight right now. “What about you, Parker?”
“Well, I’m happy you asked. I am very thankful for this kick-ass meal that I get to eat soon, but I’m also thankful for the person who came up with the idea. Life has been a hell of a lot more interesting since you showed up,” Parker said, his grin in full force.
I blushed under his gaze at being called out in front of everyone.
“I, too, am thankful for Lailah,” Brayden started off and paused to clear his throat. “If anyone in the world had to be Synergy, I am thankful it’s you, because I’m not sure anyone else would have been so perfect for us all.”
Now I could feel my face burst into flames as his heated gaze and swoon-worthy words hit me.
“And barf,” Cami said, breaking the tension in the room. “Moving on. You’re up, Cranky Pants McGee. Think you have anything you can come up with to be grateful for?”
Micah scowled at her, gripping his knife like he wanted to throw it at her. Cami just blinked at him with wide-eyed innocence.
“I’m fucking grateful it’s almost winter break, and I get three weeks of not having to deal with all your sorry asses,” Micah managed from a clenched jaw.
“Encore! We demand an encore!” Cami said, standing and clapping her hands. “Look at that, you didn’t even burst into flames or anything.” Cami ducked as a roll went flying through the air at her.
“Micah, Cami, Sit down,” Beth snapped from her spot at the head of the table.
Once they both sat and looked away from each other, I looked over at Jay. “Last but not least,” I said, smiling at him.
“Thankful to be alive,” Jay said, then grabbed the bowl of sweet potatoes in front of him and helped himself.
As if he broke the seal holding everyone in place, the guys dove into the food, piling their plates high.
I smiled as I watched everyone enjoying the food that we had worked so hard to make.
I took a small sample of everything; I knew better than to stuff myself on the first round.
Besides, there was still dessert to come.
The rest of the meal went without any further incidents since everyone was distracted with the food in front of them.
Easy talk filtered among the table, and I learned that Sarah and Garrett had two grown children that were not part of the Elementi.
They both took a vow of silence and left to live their lives more normally.
Because of this—and the fact that they are full-time here, looking after all of us—they didn’t get to see them often.
It made me sad to think of them not being able to see their grandchildren, but it gave me a window into another side of the Elementi.
You were either all in or you were all out, no room for the in-between.
The boys all helped bring in the dishes, and we all tackled the major task of cleaning up.
Cami had helped along the way, but there was still so much to deal with.
Hudson washed the dishes while Brayden dried them.
Parker and I were putting things back while Jay helped to pack away the leftovers.
Micah, being the social butterfly he is, was clearing the table of all the decorations and putting out dishes for dessert.
Many hands made quick work and gave us time to make room for dessert.
“Sarah, I have to say, you have outdone yourself on these pies,” Parker said as he tried not to drool over them.
“I didn’t make those. That would be Miss Lailah’s work,” Sarah said with a wink.
Parker came over to me and dropped on one knee, taking my hand. “Will you marry me right now?”
“What?! No, stop that, get off the kitchen floor,” I said, pulling my hand out of his and taking a step back.
Parker pouted and stood back up. “Come on, where else am I going to find a girl who is smart, kind, sexy, puts up with me, cooks, and bakes? That is a perfect storm of a woman, and I know it.”
As I looked at Parker, I couldn’t tell if he was totally messing with me, or if he meant any of that.
His chocolate-colored eyes seemed to glow with his feelings, but I still couldn’t decipher what they were.
I didn’t want to be a notch on Parker’s belt.
He was too important to me for me to take the wrong step with our relationship—friends or otherwise.
“Parker, lay off, you’re making her uncomfortable,” Brayden said, walking up behind me and putting his hands on my hips.
Parker’s eyes flicked to where Brayden’s hands were, then back up to my face. I could almost see a flash of hurt in his gaze before it was gone. “Calm down, lover boy, I was just yanking her chain.”
Turning, he grabbed two of the pies and made his way back to the dining room. I followed after him with my eyes, feeling like I might have misjudged the situation.
“Stop thinking so hard, you’re going to give yourself a headache,” Brayden whispered into my ear before he kissed my neck. “Come on, I can’t wait to taste your pie.”
“That’s what she said,” Cami called out as she walked by with the last pie.
Brayden groaned and grabbed my hand, pulling me after him.