It was intimate, and the candlelight made the evening romantic.This didn't feel like a friend helping out another friend.It felt very much like a date.But I wasn't brave enough to point that out to him.
Maybe he was just having fun playing house, wanting to use his grandmother's things.When I'd talked myself into a good head space, I cut the chicken and took a bite."It tastes really good."
"I'm glad you like it."
I chewed and swallowed."You should cook more often."
"I can cook, but it seems like a waste for one."
"But then you have leftovers for days."
"I get sick of eating the same thing every day.At my parents, we always had a new meal.There were never any leftovers with six kids, and Cooper was always over."
"I'd imagine not.How's Cooper doing?"
"He works in the family business, and he's still tight with the family.I think of him as a brother."
I sighed."I always wondered what was going on at his house that he preferred yours."
"We never asked.My mom was adamant that we let him tell us when he was ready, but he never did.She wanted to provide a safe place for him."
Nothing was ever said, but he and his younger sister were quiet in school.They wore what were clearly hand-me-downs, and they received free lunches at school.But beyond that, no one asked.And maybe that was a mistake."As long as he's fine now."
"He's great and really proud of his sister, who went to college."
I raised a brow."First one in the family?"
He nodded."From the way he talks about it, I have to assume so."
"That's great."
He sighed, looking around at the room."I'm happy to be here, surrounded by people who mean so much to me.It's not that my fellow soldiers didn't mean something too, but it's different being home.”
"I'd like to say it's the same for me, but it's just me and Eve, and it's almost sad to be here without my parents."
He reached across and covered my hand with his."I'm sorry.I didn't mean to bring up all that you've lost."
"You can talk about your family.It's just that the grief, the sense of loss, is still so acute.I'm sure it will get better with time.But I will miss them at big events, holidays, weddings."
He squeezed my hand before moving back to his side of the table."You know my family is yours too.Any time you want to be ensconced with noise and chaos, you're welcome."
"I really appreciate you saying that."When we broke up, I mourned the loss of him and his family.It was good to know that I had that back.
Chapter18
Ford
It was easy to offer up my family to Natasha.She'd been a part of it since we started working together in school, and then later when we were dating.
Once my family welcomed you in, you never left.The years that passed with us being out of town wouldn't make any difference to them."My family probably prefers you over me anyway."
She laughed, the candlelight flickering over her face."I doubt that."
It was worth saying whatever it took to get her to laugh."Go ahead and ask them.I'm sure they'll admit it."
She shook her head."They'd just be giving you a hard time."
"I don't know about that."Mom wanted more women around, so she was happy to have Penny and now Natasha.She certainly wouldn't want me to push her away.
