"I'm right here!" Tyler giggles and squirms as she plants noisy kisses on his cheeks.
"Those flowers are gorgeous," I tell Nate, taking the bouquet. "And way too extravagant."
"Blame Elena," he says, his smile softening his normally intense expression. "She said extravagant flowers were mandatory for Thanksgiving with you all."
"She's not wrong," Logan calls from the kitchen where he's stashing the champagne. "I expect nothing less than extravagant." He teases.
Elena follows me to the kitchen. "So," she whispers, her back to the men, "still planning the big reveal today?"
I nod, unable to suppress my smile. "After dinner. I have a little gift for Logan."
Her eyes dance with excitement. "I can't believe you've kept it secret this long. I'd have burst."
"Auntie Elena! Aunt El!" Tyler tugs at her hand. "I made new pictures. Wanna see?"
"Absolutely," she says seriously. "Lead the way, Dr. McCoy."
Tyler drags her to the living room where his dinosaur drawings cover the coffee table. Nate follows, kneeling beside them with genuine interest as Tyler explains each prehistoric creature with the solemnity of a museum curator.
"That kid," Logan murmurs, appearing at my side with two glasses of sparkling water. "He's got them wrapped around his finger."
I accept the glass, our fingers brushing for a moment. "Like father, like son."
More guests are arriving, and I'm struck again by how much has changed since last Thanksgiving.
Then, Jessica enters with a handsome man in wire-rimmed glasses—Marcus, her new boyfriend of three months. She's holding a sweet potato casserole and wearing a genuine smile.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" She says as she steps inside, accepting Logan's brief hug easily. "Logan, you remember Marcus. Marcus, this is Reese."
Marcus extends his hand, his grip firm and friendly. "Nice to finally meet you, Reese. Jessica says such nice things about you."
"She’s sweet," I say, leading them inside.
"I may go on a bit about how grateful I am to have you as my kiddo’s bonus mom," Jessica says. The compliment warms me because I know she means it.
Tyler spots Jessica and rockets across the room. "Mommy!" He crashes into her legs with the same enthusiasm he showed me this morning.
Jessica crouches to hug him. "There's my big boy! I missed you!"
"I made you a special turkey picture at school!" he tells her excitedly. "It's on the fridge! I used my hand to make the feathers!"
She leans against the counter, watching Tyler show Marcus his new dinosaur drawings.
The elevator doors open again, and this time it's Kovy and his wife Natasha, with their twin daughters—and they’re all matching. Logan greets Kovy with a back-slapping hug, and immediately starts chirping him about his matching holiday outfit before launching into talk about last night’s games.
Natasha says hello, then rolls her eyes at them as they disappear into their sports bubble. "They can’t help themselves," she says.
Sully arrives next with his new girlfriend Diane, a petite pediatric surgeon with silver-streaked hair and cute glasses. He presents us with an expensive bottle of scotch "for later" and pulls me into a bear hug.
"Looking good, kid," he tells me, his eyes twinkling. "You’re glowing! Marriage agrees with you, eh?"
"It does," I agree, watching Logan across the room, his head thrown back in laughter at something Nate said.
The apartment fills steadily with more teammates and their families—Benny with his wife and toddler, Schmitty and his fiancée, Jonesy and his best friend from childhood. Voices overlap, laughter ripples through different corners of the room, and the space transforms into our chosen family.
I stand for a moment in the kitchen doorway, taking it all in. All the guests are chatting happily, Jessica and Elena look like old friends laughing by the window, and Logan moves through it all with effortless confidence—connecting people, making introductions, ensuring everyone feels welcome.
"Pretty great, huh?" Logan says, appearing at my side and sliding an arm around my waist.
