“I didn’t want to make a big deal.”
“Well, you’re here now,” she says, hauling me inside. The door closes with a bang behind Drew. “I don’t know if Drew warned you, but it’s crazy when everyone is here.”
“He mentioned that.”
“And my mother is fixated on finding Drew his one true love. He hasn’t brought a date to any event in a very long time, so she’s reading more into this. Don’t take it personally.”
“I’ve been prewarned, and it’s cool.” I look back at Drew, grinning. “I was just telling Drew?—”
“Don’t you dare,” he growls, cutting across me.
“That I have a dirty big crush on him, and I’ve been doodling his name all over my journal and planning a massive fairy-tale wedding and?—”
He clamps his hand over my mouth, stalling my words. “You’re certifiable, or maybe I am for bringing you here.”
Abby wears an inquisitive expression as her gaze dances between her brother and me. “At least you’re not snapping at one another. This is progress.” She waggles her brows and grins.
“Your lipstick is smudged,” Drew says in a clipped tone like his sister’s words really irritated him, or maybe mine did it.
Before he can stop me, I dart in and press a firm kiss to the underside of his jawline, leaving a visible mark. “There.” I beam at him as he looks at me like I’m the antichrist. “Now there’s an explanation for it.”
Abby grabs her twin’s free hand so he can’t rub the mark away, dragging him down the hallway while I walk on his other side, snorting a laugh at the look of thunder on his face.
“Look who’s here!” Abby shouts to be heard over the noise in the large open-plan space. My jaw trails the ground as I count the bodies around the room. Holy fucking shit. There are at least twelve adults and ten kids by my calculation. With us, that’s twenty-five. It’s crazy. Who are all these people?
“Uncle Drew!” a chorus of little voices says, and warmth fills my chest as I watch the kids descend en masse on Drew and surround him.
“We’re missing a few,” Abby explains. “Our friends, the Lauders, are in New York with Jackson’s family today.”
Everyone knows who Jackson Lauder is. He’s been crowned champion four times during his career, and it’s not over yet. “He’s the Formula 1 racer.”
“He’s so amazing,” Abby gushes. “We’re all very proud of him.” She loops her arm through mine, tugging me toward the kitchen where two older women are busy cooking. “Two of my brothers-in-law are missing too. Harley got married recently, and he’s at his in-laws, and my youngest brother-in-law, Roman, is a top model. He’s signed to Keanu Kennedy’s modeling agency, and he lives in Milan with his Italian fiancé. They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Europe, but we spoke to him this morning, and Leonardo’s family is throwing a big family dinner in Roman’s honor, which is so sweet.”
Olivia Manning turns around at the sound of Abby’s voice, and her face lights up like a thousand suns when she spots me. “You must be Athena. Oh my, look how gorgeous you are.”
The other woman glances at me over her shoulder, smiling as she stirs a pot at the stove.
Olivia practically skips toward me, taking my hand and pulling me away from her daughter. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. My son is a lucky man.”
“He definitely is,” I say, deciding to just go with this. It’s going to really wind Drew up, and I’m giddy at the thought of pissing him off all day. Which is probably super mean because he was considerate in inviting me, but oh well.
I never claimed to be an angel.
Her squeal of delight almost bursts my eardrums.
“You are so wicked,” Abby whispers in my ear. “But I love it, and you’re officially my new best friend.”
The smile cresting over my face is genuine as I wink at Drew’s twin. It feels so good to have a partner in crime.
“These are for you,” I say, handing the flowers to Olivia. “Drew has some other stuff I brought.”
“There really was no need, but this is so thoughtful.” Olivia buries her head in the petals before grinning at me.
“If I’d known in advance, I would have baked something. Before my mom died, she used to give the staff the day off on Thanksgiving, and we always cooked everything from scratch. It was the same at Christmas. I miss those traditions.”
“I take it your cunt of a stepmother doesn’t cook,” Drew says, staggering into the kitchen with a cute little redhead clinging to his leg.
“Andrew!” Olivia shrieks, placing her hands over the little girl’s ears. “Watch your language around the little ones.”
