“That is so kind of you. Thank you.”
I hold out my hand to shake her dad’s hand.
“Cash.” His voice is deep. Curt.
Piper said I didn’t have to worry about her dad? That doesn’t make any sense. He’s intimidating as hell. He was a kicker in the NFL, so not like a giant lineman, but his presence is overwhelming, even though I’m taller than he is by a few inches. Gray peppers his hair.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.” I hand over the bottle of bourbon. “This is for you.”
Jackson takes it from me with a nod. “I appreciate that.”
“Since when are you so formal?” Noah asks, popping a nut into his mouth.
“Noah.” This time, from her mom. “We said you had to be nice tonight.”
“What? It’s not every day I get to see him act like an idiot.”
“Noah!” All three of them yell at him this time.
“Is it too late to send Noah home?” Piper asks, grabbing a beer from the fridge for me.
“You mean you don’t want to spend the holidays with your brother?” He wraps an arm around her and rubs his knuckles on her hair.
“Oh my God, stop!” she shrieks.
Tenley grabs the beer from Piper and hands it to me. “I’m sorry about them. I don’t know where they get it.”
“It’s weird to see Noah like this, to be honest.”
“Joys of being a big brother,” she tells me. “Do you have any siblings, Cash?”
I shake my head, taking a sip of my beer. “It was just me growing up.”
“Well, we’re glad to have you here for dinner.”
“Thanks for inviting me. And letting Puck come.”
The dog in question has made himself at home, lying on his back in front of the fire. His favorite place to be.
“We couldn’t let him be alone either.” She squeezes my arm before going back into the kitchen. “Dinner should be ready soon.”
Piper shoves Noah off her and walks over to me, calling over her shoulder, “I hope you get traded!”
“You wound me, Piper.” He mocks being injured.
I can’t help but smile at these two.
“It smells great in here.”
“Piper made dessert,” Noah tells me. “Her famous apple pie.”
“What makes it famous?” I ask her as she comes up to me holding a matching sweater.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” She winks. “Now, c’mon. You need to put on your sweater before dinner.”
It’s then I notice everyone has one of the sweaters on. It makes my chest swell. Like I’m part of the family.
Piper leads me back through the hallway and up the stairs.
