“I told you that.”
“I know, but I thought you were simply insane.” She swirled her fries in the melting cheese. “But you really are.”
“Really what? Insane?” I teased as she laughed.
“Yeah.” Pushing her plate away, she sat back in her seat. “You have to help me, I don’t know what to wear.”
“Wear what you’re comfortable in,” I said easily and then thought about it. “But maybe not jeans.”
“A dress?” Ava’s nose wrinkled as she grimaced. “Will you be wearing a dress?”
“I haven’t thought about it,” I told her honestly. “I usually justgrab something,” I added with a shrug. “But for Sunday lunch . . . yeah, it wouldn’t be pants.”
“Drat.”
“Drat?” I laughed at her terminology. “You have a black skirt, I’ve seen it. Wear that with a top you like. It’s simple.”
“Okay.” She nodded thoughtfully. “So, who else will be there?”
“Us, Jett’s parents, Ash’s parents, my dad and Anne.”
“The other brother?”
I clenched my jaw. “Only if we’re very unlucky.”
“You don’t like him?”
“We have a mutual agreement to detest each other.” There was no point denying it. “But youwillget to meet Tilly, Ash’s little sister. She’s adorable.”
“I’m not really good with kids.” Ava shrugged awkwardly.
“It’s impossible not to love Tilly, she’s awesome.”
“I’m so nervous,” she said again.
“You’ll be fine. You’ve met them already. Jett will be there and so will the others and me. You’re going to be fine.” She nodded before she picked her phone up.
I returned to my textbook while Ava spent time on her phone. I heard them approach before I looked up and saw them. The calls and commiseration that Gray was injured had been pretty consistent for the last few days.
They all stopped at the table we were at, and I looked up. “What?”
“Come sit with us.” Jett gestured to the football table, and I shook my head.
“No.”
“Queeny,” he started.
“I’m not on the football team, I’m no longer in high school, and I don’t need to be sitting beside you all at lunch time.”
Gray was grinning openly as Ash huffed out a laugh as he carried on to their usual table.
“I thought you would want to, now that . . .” He glanced at Gray, who raised an eyebrow at his brother.
“Now what?” Ava demanded as she looked between us all. She was half-turned in her seat as she tried to figure out what Jett was saying.
“You thought wrong,” I told him as I packed my books away. “Anyway, I’m heading to the library.” I saw his look of disappointment before he reached out to Ava’s discarded plate. I pulled it sharply out of his way. “Don’t even think about it,” I scolded him. “Youknowwhat’s on your food plan for today, and it better be in that backpack.”
“Have fun at the library,” he said dryly as he pulled Ava to her feet, and they headed to the back table.
