Chapter 16
Alex went to her Aunt Francesca’s for Thanksgiving. She and Carmela had grown up together, and Francesca was like her second mother. They used to have a typically big Italian family, but everyone had either moved away, divorced and taken sides, or passed away. It was hard at first for Alex when her parents moved, but she grew used to it. She spoke to them on the phone and emailed with them pretty regularly. They were happy, and that was what mattered to Alex.
She made two pans of lasagna because she knew that the first would somehow be devoured, regardless of the small number of people in attendance. It was what they did. Francesca invited the guy she was dating, a retail manager named Steve. Carmela invited one of their fellow teachers that had nowhere to go. Her name was Jessica, and she taught freshman science. She was loud and Alex wasn’t really fond of her, but she understood where Carmela was coming from when she invited her. It was hard not to be charitable to strangers that had nobody to turn to on holidays. They certainly had enough food.
By the time she left her aunt’s house at one, she was stuffed. She hoped Grant didn’t expect her to eat a bunch of different things at his place. Maybe he only made a few sides since it was just him and two other people. Then again, she always made too much food regardless of who was coming over, so it was anyone’s guess what he would end up doing. She got out of her car at his complex and leaned back in to get the pan of food from the front passenger seat. She climbed the stairs, noting that it was growing darker out with the cloud cover already thick and heavy. She hoped it wasn’t going to snow. The forecast called for sleet with the possibility of flurries, but Alex wasn’t sure she wanted either.
She was a little nervous to meet Reagan because Grant had clearly placed her on a pedestal. She wanted to make a good impression, and all of the self-inflicted pressure sent her into overdrive with worry. She couldn’t stop all of the numerous thoughts swirling around her head at whether or not Reagan would like her. If she didn’t like her, Alex was afraid Grant wouldn’t keep her around. She was so pleased with the way he’d opened up to her and was more boyfriend-like than he’d ever been before. He called her, he dropped by with gifts, and he kissed her until she couldn’t see straight.
But they hadn’t had sex since the day in the shop.
Alex shifted the pan in her hands and knocked on the door. She heard voices, and then Grant opened the door, smiling at her and taking the lasagna from her hands. She smiled back and leaned in to give him a kiss. Over his shoulder, she saw a blonde girl, shorter than she was and buxom. She was really beautiful. Alex cleared her throat and stepped inside when Grant moved to the kitchen with the food. It smelled so good in the apartment.
“Hi, I’m Reagan.”
The girl walked up and stuck out her hand, so Alex took it and shook. “I’m Alexandra, but you can call me Alex.”
“I’m thrilled to meet you. Grant has never let me meet one of his girlfriends before. I think he said there have only been two.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that.” Alex felt herself flush hot at the thought that she still didn’t know everything about Grant.
A tall, red-haired man walked into the room from the hallway. Reagan spotted him and beamed brighter than the sun. This was clearly her boyfriend Hudson.
“Hudson, meet Alex, Grant’s girlfriend.”
“Hi, Alex. Nice to meet you.” Hudson stood next to Reagan and didn’t come close enough to shake hands, so Alex gave a small wave.
“Hi.”
Grant came back into the living room and sat on the couch, pulling Alex’s hand so she would join him. Hudson and Reagan took the chair and the floor, respectively. Alex wasn’t sure how she found the floor comfortable, but unless they pulled a dining chair in the room, they would end up with someone squished on the couch next to her. She smiled faintly when she met Reagan’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what to say, and that was a first. Alex loved to talk.
“Grant says you teach. Hudson is a professor at UM,” Reagan said.
“I teach algebra at Jefferson,” Alex said quietly.
“I’m surprised I never met you before. I graduated from there.” Reagan was frowning and looked like she was working out a difficult puzzle.
“I’ve been there for five years.” Alex wasn’t sure how she hadn’t met her before either, but it was a decently sized school.
“I was in honors math class,” Reagan offered.
“They’re on a different hall than the standard classes,” Alex said with a nod.
“That explains it, then.”
They fell silent, and Alex was dying to leave already, which was a shame. She wasn’t feeling like herself.
Grant spoke up. “Alex, did you enjoy your holiday with your family?”
“Oh, yes.” She grew more animated as she spoke. “My Aunt Francesca is funny as hell, and my cousin Carmela has a sharp mouth. They’re quite a pair. I couldn’t go more than a few minutes without being offered more food. They had two guests, and I think they were worried they’d gain ten pounds.”
“Why were they offered more food if they weren’t hungry?” Hudson asked.
Alex frowned a little and shrugged. “It’s what we do. If we don’t offer you food, we don’t like you. It’s like an expression of love to make sure you eat.” Hudson looked perplexed, so Alex went on. “My family is Italian. It’s in our blood. That, and yelling.”
Hudson’s faced cleared. “Oh! I had no idea what you were talking about. My family is very stuffy and almost rude. They would never be outright rude, of course, they just couch everything they say to someone they don’t like in backhanded compliments and condescending tones.”
Reagan rolled her eyes. “They’re kind of a nightmare.”
