“Gabe!” Her mother scolded him but her tone was tepid, and Amanda wondered if her parents shared her siblings’ reticence about her boyfriend.
They should love him. He was responsible, had a great job, and was ambitious enough to be successful at whatever he did. On paper, he was a parent’s dream guy, but her mom and dad had never warmed to him the way she’d expected. Of course, they hadn’t had much of a chance. Ethan rarely made it for family functions and when he did, he didn’t stay long. They’d love him once they spent more time with him.
Her phone vibrated and she knew what to expect before she pulled it out of her pocket. A quick glance at the screen confirmed what she already knew. Ethan was running late and told them to go ahead without him. He promised to be there before dessert. She shoved aside the quiet voice that asked what work could possibly tie him up on a Sunday. She trusted him. If he said he couldn’t make it, then he couldn’t, but part of her wondered if he’d have found the time for something other than dinner with her family.
“Ethan said to go ahead without him,” she said, careful to keep what she was feeling out of her voice. Setting up an additional divide between the man she was dating and her family wouldn’t get her anywhere she wanted to be.
Becca slanted her eyes sideways in a clear indication that she’d expected him to bail too, but she didn’t say anything.
“That’s a shame,” said her mother.
“More for me.” Her father gave her ponytail a gentle tug on the way to the table.
The quiet around the table was a testament to their mother’s cooking. Amanda ate two helpings of roast beef and a substantial pile of mashed potatoes covered in gravy. She justified it to herself as refueling after the run. Looking at Gabe and Becca, they seemed to have the same idea. As did their father, lack of running aside.
“The guy who’s coaching us is nice,” said Becca, after they’d made a significant dent in the food on the table. She glanced at Gabe and something passed between them. Amanda would have missed it if she hadn’t been watching.
“He is,” she said noncommittally.
It would be just like her sister to ignore the fact that she was seeing someone and try to play matchmaker. And then she had another thought that tightened something in her stomach.What if Becca wanted Michael?He wasn’t her normal type, and she hadn’t given any indication she liked him like that. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t interested. Michael had a kind nature, great eyes, and even better hands.
She remembered what it had been like holding his gaze and his hands while they did the obstacle together. She felt connected to him, as if he could read her just by looking into her eyes. And that didn’t even take into consideration his exceptional body. That, at least, was Becca’s type. Not that any of that mattered. If her sister wanted to date Michael, she’d be happy for her. He was a nice guy. And she was committed to Ethan.
“It’s a great gym. If I didn’t have the gym at work, I’d go there,” said Gabe, which was crazy. In addition to acquiring enough bad-ass equipment to overthrow and staff a small country, Southerland Security, Emerson’s and Gabe’s business, had a state-of-the-art gym. The only reason she didn’t work out there, aside from her love of the Y, was because the guys who worked for her brothers were as protective as they were and it drove her nuts. “The equipment and facilities are great and I love the way it feels—serious without being over the top,” he said, waxing on. “I get the impression Michael really likes helping people meet their goals.”
What the hell?Amanda couldn’t remember her brother stringing together that many words about another dude in—well, ever. She glanced back and forth between her siblings but neither of them would meet her gaze. Something was up, but it didn’t mean she had to take the bait.
Taking her plate and her father’s, she rose and started to help clear the table. Becca and Gabe gave up theirMichael for Awesome Guycampaign and pitched in. It didn’t take long for the three of them to load the dishwasher and tidy the kitchen while their mother pulled an enormous dish of banana pudding out of the refrigerator.
“Told you I was her favorite,” said Gabe, taking the dish from their mother.
“Think what you need to, little brother, if it makes you feel better, but everyone knows she loves Emerson best. He’ll get puddingandhis favorite chocolate cake.” Becca stuck her finger in the whipped cream topping and Gabe shifted his body to shield the bowl.
“That’s just because he’s never here,” said Gabe.
“I’m her favorite,” said their father. “She got stuck with you guys. She picked me. Now bring that here before you drop it.”
The idea wasn’t inconceivable considering the way Gabe was twisting around to keep the bowl away from Becca.
“There’s plenty for everyone and I love you all equally,” said their mother, setting spoons and bowls on the table before taking her seat opposite their father.
“Of course, Sarah,” said their father with a wink. “It’s good to let them believe that. Mandy, grab the cards. I’m feeling the need to pulverize my progeny at gin.”
“Have you been saving that phrase all week?” Amanda asked, smiling at her father’s nickname for her. Opening the drawer in her mother’s hutch, she grabbed a dog-eared pack of cards. She’d been playing gin since before she hit puberty and it was a rare day that her father or her siblings could beat her. “Are you sure you’re up for it?” She dealt in Becca, Gabe, and her parents. “I’d hate to make you cry.”
“Don’t you worry, darling. I can take it.”
Amanda set the rest of the cards face down and turned over the two of hearts. She had the three and four in her hand but play had to pass through everyone else in the family before it was her turn to draw. And unless someone else laid something good, she wouldn’t have enough points to get on the board anyway. Becca and her mother both drew and discarded, but at her daddy’s turn, he played three 10s.
“How does he do that?” asked Gabe. “I’ve got nothing and he’s already on the board.”
“It’s a gift, son,” said their father, helping himself to another serving of pudding.
Amanda picked up a jack of diamonds and discarded a three she couldn’t work into her plans. If no one took the discard pile, on her next turn she could take the two and get out on the board. She spooned up a bite of pudding, relishing the way the Nilla wafers had softened in the whipped cream. She’d have to run another three miles to burn off the calories, but her mother’s banana pudding was worth it.
She’d just taken another bite when her phone vibrated with an incoming text. Glancing at the screen, she saw Ethan’s number and the wordsI’m sorry. Excusing herself, she went to the kitchen to see what he had to say. She didn’t want her family—especially Becca—scrutinizing her expression while she read the message.
She knew before she opened the message that Ethan was going to bail on dessert. What she didn’t expect was to feel relieved. It was so nice hanging out, playing cards with her family, and if Ethan showed up, everything would inevitably get more complicated. It wasn’t that he was difficult, not exactly—he just hadn’t had the same experiences she had growing up.
