"You did good."
"You coached me."
"You didn't need it." His thumb traces my jaw. "You've known all of that for a while."
His mouth finds mine and he kisses me slow, like he has all the time in the world and has decided to spend it here.
The doorbell rings.
Then, through the door: "The donuts are getting stale.”
"Jeremy, she might be—"
"She’s fine. Uncle Rye…open the door, I have feelings—"
Rye pulls back. Looks at the door. Looks at me.
"Your friends," he says.
"My friends," I confirm. “They’re early.”
“Shocker.” He shakes his head, dropping his forehead to mine. “I love you Elodie. I always have.”
I sit, silent as he turns and stomps to the door, swinging it open.
Jeremy launches through it before it's fully open, pink-frosted donut box in hand, and wraps himself entirely around Rye, who endures it with the frozen dignity of a man being consumed by a golden retriever.
"Iknewit," Jeremy announces into Rye's shoulder. "I called this in the limo—"
"You absolutely did not," Anna says, and goes directly for me. Both arms around my neck, chin on my shoulder, squeezing hard. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I squeeze back. "I really am."
She pulls back, does the scan she's been doing since second grade and nods.
Jeremy has released Rye and is studying him with both hands on his hips like a man appraising expensive art. Rye crosses his arms and waits.
"Okay," Jeremy says. "Yeah. I get it." He turns to me. "No further questions. Where's the kitchen? Everyone in this house is having a donut."
"You don't live here," Rye says.
"Not yet," Jeremy snorts.
I'm halfway through a glazed donut without a flicker of guilt when Rye sets down his coffee and gives me that look.
The one that means he's about to do something I don't see coming.
"I have someone coming at two," he says.
"Okay." I knot my brow, listening to Anna and Jeremy chirping and laughing as they give themselves a tour of the house.
"Interior designer."
I stop chewing.
"Top firm in Detroit. I've used them for the clubs." He holds my gaze. "I want you to walk every room in this house with her and tell her what you want."
The house goes quiet. Jeremy and Anna freeze in the doorway leading to the hall.
