I hope he’s right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CROSSED WIRES
CAMDEN
Elm & Echo is humming even before the festivities begin, so when the Fairs and Whitmans start piling in, it becomes a low roar. It’s not even everyone yet. Noah is here with Grayson, but Tully and Dylan aren’t in town. Grayson hasn’t left my side since he got here.
“Uncle Camden, if I eat everything on my plate, can I have one of those?” He points at the massive lava cake at the next table.
“Absolutely.”
“I’m starving,” he says.
I laugh. “Okay. I can get you started on some chicken tenders and fries, if you want…or that pasta you like sometimes.”
“Chicken tenders and fries!” he says.
“All right, we’ll get you set up.”
We go back to the kitchen, and I ask Bobby to have Hannah bring Grayson’s food out when it’s ready. We brought apps out already, but he wasn’t really going for those. Unbeknownstto Juju, the only reason I caved with Jackson this afternoon is because her parents drove in earlier to surprise her. Once Jackson had worked out the party arrangements, John and Margaret agreed to hang out with Everett until dinner to keep it a surprise. They’re seated with my family, and Hector and Hal are here too.
Everyone but Juju, Goldie, and Milo has arrived, and funny enough, neither has Jackson…the guy who insisted we do this in the first place. My eyes are on the door every few seconds.
“When are you gonna join us, son?” my dad asks. “You look like you’re waiting on someone…” He smirks.
I frown, trying to figure out why he’s looking at me so funny, but Annie and Hannah huff past me, so I hold up a finger to my dad and move toward the twins to figure out what’s going on.
“I thought you didn’t like him,” Hannah says.
“I thoughtyoudidn’t like him,” Annie fires back.
Both cross their arms over their chests and glare at each other.
“Hi, ladies. What’s the problem?” I ask.
It’s weird how hard it’s become to remember how being a teenager felt. I’m reminded daily, watching Annie, Hannah, and Joey interact with one another. From what I can tell, both girls like Joey, and Joey can’t figure out which twin he likes best.
“She was just hanging out all night at the front, and I had to get the drinks for two of her tables!” Hannah tells me, flinging her arm toward her sister.
Annie’s cheeks flush. “Joey was overwhelmed by the large party, and I was just trying to help get the Whitmans in their seats,” she argues.
Her eyes trail over to me like she’s waiting for me to correct her, since she and I both know that I made a point to come out of the kitchen to take care of my family when they arrived.
“How about we both get where we’re supposed to be. It’s a good thing we don’t have any surprise critics here tonight.” I look around, making sure that’s still true. Yep, I know everyone in the room. “Table six needs a bread basket, and table four is waiting for their drinks. Joey can handle the front. If he can’t, I’ll deal with him…not your responsibility.”
Annie’s cheeks flush again, and she mutters “Okay” quickly before dashing off to table four.
On my way to the kitchen, I overhear Hal telling Grandma Nancy, “Darlin’, you look devastating…landing straight from heaven…” He taps his heart. “Right here.”
Grandma Nancy does not blink. She turns her head slowly to face him. “To smite your foolishness.”
His head falls back as his laughter fills the restaurant.
Juju walks in with Goldie and Milo. Her hair is down, and she’s wearing tall boots and a sweater dress that hits mid-thigh. Damn, she looks so good, I’m not sure how I’ll concentrate for the rest of the night. She barely gives me a glance, and for a second, I forget that we’re keeping us a secret and wonder if she’s mad at me. I don’t like it when she walks right past me without even trying to sneak a word in or anything. It’s all forgotten when she spots John and Margaret. She squeals and rushes to hug her parents. The joy on her face gives my chest a pang.
Erin and Ava walk in a few minutes later. Erin holds both arms up likeI have arrived, and Ava looks around shyly.
