“What are we celebrating, Tommy?”I couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m the one who knew Haven and Elsa were in love before they would even admit it to each other, and you two are even worse than them.”Tommy rolled his eyes.“I haven’t even had a girlfriend or a boyfriend.Don’t even know if I ever want one.”He cleared his throat in an exaggerated manner and rolled his eyes.“You’ve been so dumb.You’re best friends.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.“Well, I appreciate your feedback.I guess.”
Tommy spun around, looking at the rest of the brothers, who were all here now.Haven was already seated at the table, eating a cracker.Cole was setting out glasses.Asher was filling a pitcher with water, and Grady sat down beside Haven and grabbed a cracker.“I’m fucking starving,” he announced.
“Language,” Maggie chimed in.
Even Tommy rolled his eyes.“Swearing is a sign of intelligence.”
“Don’t you even start with me, Tommy Silver,” Maggie warned.“I’m not going to argue that point.I’m sure you found that detail somewhere, and I do appreciate your good vocabulary.But I still think it’s important we all understand there are places for profanity, and the dinner table is not one of them.”
“Back to my point,” Tommy said.“I think I should be in charge of everybody’s love lives.”
Grady almost choked on the cracker he had just finished chewing.“Dude, no.Don’t even get started.I’m not looking for love.I have other priorities.”
Tommy nodded knowingly.“Right.”He looked between Asher and Cole.“Let’s just put it this way.When you think you might be serious about somebody, you gotta clear it with me.”
“What, are you like a human filter?”Asher asked, setting the pitcher on the table before sitting down.
“Something like that.”
“Meanwhile, you need to get the rest of dinner on the table, Tommy,” Maggie cut in.
I was relieved that everything was out in the open.My doubts would still flicker in the background, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt to be here with a family I loved and with my best friend.It was a relief not to keep my emotions tucked away.I’d told myself for years that if Jude ever found someone, I would still be his best friend, and it would work out somehow.But it would’ve been difficult.
Now, I just hoped that we could really make this work.That everyone’s faith in our love would be enough to carry us through.We got through the initial wave of everybody noticing.Chloe was busy working, but she came in to grab a plate Maggie had made for her.Meanwhile, Elsa beamed at us.
“Tommy,” I said about halfway through dinner, “this salmon casserole is amazing.I believe you’ve truly found your calling.You can obviously work as long as you want over in the rescue program, and I don’t know what I’ll ever do without you, but I think you should be a chef.”
His grin was wide.“Do you think?”
“I just said so.”I nodded firmly.
Haven took a bite.“Kendall’s right, Tommy.You really are good at this.Mom taught all of us to cook.”He gestured with his fork toward his brothers.“And, we’re serviceable at it, but you?Oh, you’re a better cook than all of us.This salmon was freezer-burned, and you turned it into something delicious.”
Maggie chimed in, “I think I’m a pretty good cook, but you’rereallygood.”
Tommy’s gaze arced around the group.He was sitting beside Haven, who curled his arm around Tommy’s shoulders and squeezed.“Thanks, Dad.”
“We’ll have to look into some kind of culinary school for you.”
“Do you think I need to go to culinary school?”Tommy looked around, clearly wanting someone to know the answer.
“I don’t know.”Haven shrugged.
“I don’t want to go to a snooty one,” Tommy chimed in.
“Even if you do go to a snooty one, you’re not snooty.You can look down on all the snooty people,” Cole offered dryly.
Tommy liked that idea, grinning as he took another bite of food.
Once again, Jude somehow managed to get me twisted up with desire, just from sitting near me.After we finished eating and we were all relaxing around the table, his brothers were mostly chatting about business while Elsa showed Tommy some recipes on her phone.Jude put his hand on my thigh, his touch like a brand, the heat emanating from it.He proceeded to talk about scheduling and routes for backcountry skiing and recommended areas where guests could stay overnight.All the while, his thumb moved in an idle stroke.His fingers teased down to trace over the seam on the inside of my jeans.My entire focus narrowed to that area.
His touch wassoclose to exactly where I wanted him to be that I began to wonder if I could even manage to stand.I finally had to curl my hand over his and move it.When I glanced at him, I saw his lips curve in just the barest hint of a grin.It was all I could do not to swat at him.How dare he?
I took an unsteady breath.“Kendall?”Elsa prompted.
