“Ah, rock star problems,” I joke.
His grin is cheeky. “What can I say? It’s a hard life, man.”
“When do we get to meet Willa Welch?” I ask.
Blaire looks at me. “The actress?”
“My brother somehow landed the biggest upcoming actress in Hollywood,” I tell Blaire. “Can you imagine that?”
Her cheeks flush. “Well …”
Coy bursts out laughing. “Of course, she can. Have you seen me?”
“Yeah. I have. And I’ve also seen you put a Sparkler in your ass and light it on the Fourth of July. So, color me surprised that someone with class might want to hook up with you,” I say, much to both of their entertainment.
“I remember that!” Boone calls from the table. “I think I have it on video somewhere.”
Blaire’s giggles beside me are all I hear.
“Nah, that shit with Willa is fake,” Coy says. “She’s really dating the drummer from Wrecked. My label wanted me to clean up my image a little bit. And her agent wanted to dirty up hers. So they tell us where to be together and when. We show up, follow the script, and go on our merry way.”
“Contractual relationships. Makes a lot of sense,” Blaire says, side-eyeing me with a grin.
Coy shrugs. “I just try to keep everyone happy.”
“That’s what you said on Christmas the morning you tried to start breakfast before Mom woke up,” Wade says.
“And you about caught the kitchen on fire,” Boone says, laughing.
My brothers discuss the tales of holidays gone wrong while I just look at the woman holding my hand.
She glances up at me, ignoring the craziness around her, and smiles. It’s an easy, sweet, supportive gesture that silences any concern I had for bringing her here. I wasn’t going to ask her. Why bother introducing her to everyone when they’ll never see her again? But it didn’t feel right coming without her either.
Now that we’re here, I know I made the right call.
I don’t know what that means exactly. But I’m not going to overthink it.
“I’m sorry. I had to get that mess cleaned up, or it would’ve sat there all day.” My mother comes rushing toward us—meaning Blaire. “How rude, I know.”
“Mrs. Mason, really, it’s fine,” Blaire says, accepting a hug from my mom. “Thank you for inviting me over this afternoon.”
My mom runs a hand through the air. “First, it’s Siggy, darling. Second, you have no idea how excited I am to have you here. I’m thrilled.”
“Are you thrilled to see me too?” I ask.
Mom laughs. “You know I always love to see your sweet face.”
Blaire looks at me and makes a face. I laugh.
“Okay,” Mom says. “Come. Sit. Let’s eat.” She turns toward thedining room table. “Come make your plate, boys. I’m your mother, not your servant.”
Chairs push back against the tile as my family makes their way into the kitchen. Coy and Boone tease Larissa about something that earns them a smack from Mom.
“Holton, how is the Landry project coming along?” Dad asks, joining Blaire and me near the sofa. “Oliver was just saying that you had an epiphany last night.”
I look down at Blaire and smile. “I didn’t. She did.”
Dad’s brows shoot toward the ceiling. “Is that right?”
