I sense Jackie’s body tighten and I narrow my gaze at my big mouth ass brother.
“What? You know everything you tell me she’s going to find out. It’s her legs I’m trying to get in between at night. Not yours, little brother.”
“Oh my God,” Resha exclaims while Jackie inhales a sharp breath.
Shameless as he is, my brother just shrugs and wraps his long arm around Resha. “So, are you?” he asks as if expecting an answer from the woman on my lap.
Save for the holiday music playing around us and the children and families roaming about, enjoying the show, there’s silence between us four adults.
A beat later, Jackie finally answers with, “Yes, I guess I am.”
“Good. Well, it sounds like everything’s going well.” Resha looks between the two of us. “Hey, Jackie, do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?”
“What?” she asks as I stiffen, looking at my sister-in-law. She can’t be about to do what I think she is.
“Plans? For Thanksgiving. The way Connor said it, it sounded like you’re new in town.”
“That’s how Mark made it seem.”
“I did not.”
“Uh, I’m not new to Williamsport but have been gone for a long time.”
“Oh, in that case, you probably have plans with your family or something?”
Why the hell is Resha prying? More importantly, why am I not stopping her?
“Sort of. Just me and my mom. Though she doesn’t eat much, so it’ll mostly be me in front of the television.”
“That’s no way to spend a holiday. Why don’t you come over to our place?”
“What the hell?” Connor blurts out, peering down at his wife. Colin’s eyes widen as he’s startled out of his stupor. He begins crying.
“See? I told you he’d be cranky.” Resha sucks her teeth at Connor. “Take him over there and bounce him to sleep.” She pushes Connor away from us, and to my amazement, he glares at her, but he does as she says.
“Sorry about that. Connor doesn’t like new people in his space, but he’ll get over it. Here’s our address,” Resha quickly adds, pulling out a paper and pen from her purse. “Dinner starts at five, but people will be showing up around three or maybe even earlier. Feel free to come whenever. Or arrive with Mark.” She looks at me, her smile beaming.
“My mom?”
“Bring her, too. The more the merrier, right, bro?” she asks me.
“If you say so.”
“See? See you then. Let me get my guys home. Bye.” Resha leans in, kissing my cheek, and gives Jackie a final smile.
We’re both silent for a long time, watching as my brother and his family head off in the direction of their car, I suppose.
“What was that?” Jackie finally turns to me, asking.
Two things I’m feeling right now—one, I want to murder my sister-in-law, and two, I’ve never before been so grateful for her.
“Looks like we’re spending Thanksgiving together.”
Chapter 11
“This is a bad idea,” I murmur as I stare in the mirror of my bedroom vanity. Yet, I pick up my liquid eyeliner, continuing to beat my face before heading out to Thanksgiving dinner.
I’ve pulled my hair up into a high bun because I remember once when we were dating before Mark said he liked the way my updos showed off the elongation of my neck. Cheesy, but whatever.
