Adam frowned, growing more protective by the second. Aimee and our younger cousins sighed, excited to see me finally with someone after Ren.
“Dinner’s ready,” Aimee said, gesturing over her shoulder. “Yara, you’ve graduated from the kids’ table this year.”
“All it took was a football-playing boyfriend. I’ll take it.” I brushed at my skirt and stood up as if I weren’t lightheaded and craving the feel of David against me. David only partially satisfied my desire when he placed his hand on the small of my back as we followed everyone out of the room and downstairs.
“I’m Adam,” my brother introduced once we were at the bottom of the staircase.
“David. Your buddy Xavier used to be my mentor back when I was in grade seven.”
“I remember.” Adam nodded. “He said you were hard to get along with.”
I attempted to make eye contact with Adam, but he promptly ignored me.
“I am.” David nodded. “It’s one of the things I’m working on.”
“Good,” Adam said. “I’m sure the list is long now that you’re with Yara.”
“Adam,” I said, not waiting for eye contact this time. “Relax.”
“Just being honest. If he wants an Every, he’ll have to learn how to be with one.”
I shook my head. “Stop it. David’s more than capable of being with an Every. Whatever that means.”
It was the first time I was protective of him. Underneath David’s smile was a host of nerves and a need to impress a house full of strangers who would spread gossip to the rest of our not-so-nice small town. He didn’t deserve that. His people weren’t here to defend him and shout his praises. So I would have to do that for him. It wasn’t the fake girlfriend in me that was motivated; it was the part of me that’d spent every weeknight and weekend with him. It was the part of me who texted him before I went to bed and when I woke up, who was saved by him at the beach and coached by him on the football field. I wanted to back up the guy who gently chided whenever he caught me picking at my hair and kept it secret. David never made me feel like I was broken for doing it. The least I could do was present a united front.
“Just being with one Every, though, right?” Adam asked, unconvinced. “Because hopping around isn’t cute.”
Adam hated the idea of Ren and Rose. The beginning of their relationship caused a rift in the family that lasted a couple of months. It was the longest we’d all been on awkward terms with one another. But I was quick to forgive, and it made little sense for Adam to continue to carry the grudge if it had nothing to do with him.
“She’s the only person I’m interested in,” David promised, his hand still on my back, tracing small circles on my spine. “Every or not.”
Adam smiled, not convinced but at least amused. “Nice answer. I guess time will tell.”
My brother patted David roughly on the shoulder and gently pinched my cheek before starting into the dining room.
“Sorry about him.” I turned to David and busied my hands with straightening his collar. “He’s trying to make up for my parents being lax. And the whole Ren thing. He’sfirmly on my side —if there were sides. There shouldn’t be sides.”
“But sometimes there are, and I get it.” David placed his hands underneath my elbows as I continued to fidget. It shouldn’t feel this natural being this close to him. “I like him.”
I smiled, surprised and pleased. “He just chewed you out for no reason.”
“He’s looking out for you,” David whispered as a few more of my family passed us to go into the dining room. The table was set with everything, spanning from a meat lover’s dream to a vegan oasis. Mom made it her mission to ensure everyone had a well-rounded meal while under her roof.
“I like that,” David said. “You deserve that.”
I stopped fidgeting and rested my hands on his shoulders. He felt solid underneath me. Steady and stable. My mind wandered to all the times David had looked out for me on campus, even though I’d pulled away every time.
“What’s wrong?” he asked when I paused for a beat too long.
I frowned and pulled away from him. “Nothing. Let’s… get in there. If we do this right, you won’t ever have to come to one of these things again.”
“Let’s do it right then.” He was supposed to sound ready, excited to get this over with. Instead, David didn’t move a muscle, lingering in the hall as if to stall for time. Maybe he wasn’t moving because, like me, his mind was stuck back upstairs, playing our non-kiss on repeat. Maybe he wasn’t moving because this hadn’t been hell on earth. We haven’t been one another’s worst nightmare. In fact, we’ve become a glimpse of a dream.
“What’s wrong?” I’m the one who asked this time. And once again, he beat me in the category of maturity.
“I think you know what,” he said, voice low and steady.
I swallowed and shook my head.
