Tears come instantly, and I blink them back. “Let’s go get our birdon.”
We step inside, and the thick scent of freshly roasted turkey hangs in the air like a culinary masterpiece just waiting for us to sink our teeth into. We stop by the elongated table near the front where Lex and her family are celebrating and wish them all a happy Thanksgiving. I can’t help but notice the way Lex keeps giving me an approving side-eye as if to sayway to go. Little does she know I am going somewhere later, on my way out of Brody’s life. My heart wrenches in my chest, and every step toward the large table in the back filled with familiar friendly faces makes me ache ten times more. There is nothing worse than having to pretend like nothing is wrong during a family get-together. God knows I’ve done it more thanonce.
“Darling, you look beautiful!” Mom stands and offers me the requisite two-cheeked European kiss. I hug Meredith and baby Maxie who looks like a doppelganger of my brothers. Meredith is a red-headed stunner, but Maxie is a dark-haired beauty with my brother’s serious eyes. I kiss each of my brothers and wish the Wolfs at the other end of the table a happy Thanksgiving before making my way toLow.
My entire body bucks when she embraces me and leans into my ear and whispers, “Okay, I think that’s code for something is very freaking wrong. Wanna head to the restroom for a quickchitchat?”
I shake my head vigorously and take a seat between her and Colby, landing myself right smack across from Brodyhimself.
Crap.
I give a nervous smile to Low. God knows she has the power to drag just about anything out of me, and seeing that she’s now one and the same with my brother, I’ve kept her out of the loop concerning my nightly lip-lock romps withBrody.
The conversation at the table is lively and light with Brody and Levi sharing their adventures in the restaurant business, and Chip and Meredith filling us in on their shared legal duties since they both work for Axel’s father’s firm. And then there’s Colby who bubbles like a brook while spilling every nonsensical detail about her time at Hollow Brook CommunityCollege.
“But really, I want to be like you two.” She nods to Low and me. “Teagan and I are hoping to get into the same dorm and spend the rest of our college careers together. And now that Low’s a part of your family, you really are like sisters. I guess that means Brody will have to marry Teagan!” She spikes in her seat with the epiphany, and the table breaks out into a light round oflaughter.
Despite Colby’s foibles, I love Brody’s family. Brody’s father, Dan, is a lifelong insurance adjuster. He’s always been an older version of Brody to me, with the same tired gold-framed glasses since I’ve known him, and he has a tendency to laugh a little too loud at off-colored jokes. His mother, Shelly, teaches English at Hollow Brook High and is a hoot to hang out with, but my mother has never gotten too cozy with her. I’m afraid my own mother, Bonnie Masterson, is a bit of an infamous snob. She’s been a socialite from the moment her own mother shoved a silver spoon into her mouth. She’s sort of an acquired taste, and in the back of my mind I’ve always feared I was,too.
I offer a silly grin over at Brody while he leans in and conducts a private conversation with Levi about something. He’s so handsome and strong. Even with that sports coat on, I can see his biceps bulging, begging to be letloose.
“What are you doing?” Colby knocks her shoulder into mine. “You lookdemented.”
“Oh, right.” I snap out of the spell, and Brody glances my way and offers up a sly smile of his own before getting back toLevi.
Colby sucks in a breath. “Hey”—she whispers—“there’s nothing going on with you and my brother, isthere?”
Brody shoots a look this way, signaling he heard but doesn’t dare acknowledgeit.
“Hell no.” I smack her on the hand for even thinkingit.
How I hate it when Colby is right about anything. She’s the most unstable, loose cannon of a person I’ve ever met, and something about her pegging me for something I may or may not be doing doesn’t sit well withme.
Low leans in. “We need to find you a decent man.” She wags a naughty finger atme.
Colby scoffs. “What’s that supposed to mean? My brother not good enough for someone likeher?”
The conversation around the tablefalters.
“What’s this?” My mother leans in, her penciled in brows are a touch too red and I’ll have to school her on selecting the correct shade later. “Raven, are you seeingBrody?”
You could hear a body drop, and right about now I’d volunteer Colby’s corpse for theeffort.
“What? No.” I bat my lashes, roll my eyes, shake my head like a loon, and all the while I know full well that every single soul at this table could see through the forest full of lies I’d be willing to spew at them. Dear God, my finger-licking Brody Wolf goose is cooked. “I’m just staying with him until I can find a place of my own.” Liar, liar, hairless girl parts onfire.
“You?” My mother flinches as if it were an impossibility, and in truth, about six months ago it would have been. “Please, Raven. You don’t have anyone at this table fooled. You’re the most qualified person on the planet. You can certainly find another ad agency to work at. In fact, I’ll contact my friends in New York. Manhattan is where you really belong, not in Hollow Brook. Not at Brody Wolf’s home.” Well—thank God, she didn’t sayhovel.
Shelly huffs as if my mother just up and slapped her son. “What’s that supposed to mean? Brody is a fine young man, I’ll have youknow.”
I glance to Brody and give a little shrug, and he winks back, melting my panties right offme.
“Ha!” My mother has the nerve to balk right back. “I’ve heard of his notorious conquests. You should have him vaccinated for all the latest and greatest STDs because that boy has had his share of Southern sleepovers, if you know what Imean.”
“Geez.” I sink in my seat and close my eyes as more gasps and barbs are tossedabout.
“Okay, ladies.” Levi tries his hand at crowd control. “How about we get to the dessert portion of the evening without throwing pie in anyone’s face? Brody’s a good guy, and he has nothing but the most chaste intentions with Raven. Low and I would have her over,but—”
“No,” I’m quick to protest. “And don’t worry”—I look to my irate mother—“I won’t be at Brody’s too long anyhow. I’ve already begun the job hunt myself. So you can call off your friends in New York, whom I’m sure you’ve alreadytexted.”
