He leans in. “I need to apologize for knowing about Ava and not telling you,” he says under his breath. “I’ve tried to convince your dad…” He shakes his head.
His expression is so sincere that I take it to heart.
“You’re off the hook.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “But only because I’ve been dating your future brother-in-law for quite a while. And…I’ve been avoiding you because of it…so I’m sorry too.”
“You know what makes me happiest about this?” He grins. “I’ll get to see you more often.”
“My mom’s gonna be so jealous. You know you’re her favorite, right?”
“She’s pretty great.”
“A lot better than my dad,” I whisper.
I keep waiting for the shift, the moment when things turn, the politeness fades and wariness creeps in. It never comes.
“Is there time for you to tell us how you met, or do we need to get to the serious stuff?” Everett asks.
Dylan grins at me. Our thighs are touching, and his fingers are laced with mine.
“She fell face down in my lap on a flight,” he says.
Everyone gasps, and Tully tries to give Dylan a high-five.
“Son!” Everett says, chastising Tully.
“What?” he says when everyone stares at him. He grins, not looking one bit sorry. “It worked out,” he says.
“Was it a turbulent flight?” Goldie asks.
My face flames. “I passed out.”
“Oh no,” Goldie and Juju gasp.
Now Tully looks ashamed. “Shit. Were you okay?” he asks.
I laugh. “Yes. I hadn’t eaten or slept much.” I wave my hand. “It was no big deal…except that I face-planted in Dylan’s lap.” I smile at Dylan. “And then he worked his charm.”
“Charmed the pants right off of—” Tully’s holding his hand up again to Dylan, and then it’s like he realizes what he’s doing, and his face turns red.
“What is wrong with you?” Noah hisses.
Tully swipes his hand down his face, and it reminds me of when Dylan does that.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been in a locker room and out on the ice way too much lately.” He shakes his head. “Have clearly lost my mind.” He looks at me sheepishly. “I apologize, Dahlia. I’m not normally so?—”
“Crass,” Everett finishes for him.
“That’s exactly what happened, though,” I say under my breath, and both Dylan and Milo choke out a laugh.
“Clearly, things are going well,” Everett says, smiling wide.
“So well.” Dylan squeezes my hand and gives me a sweet look. “I took her out to dinner…made Grandma Nancy’s Swedish pancakes.”
Grandma Nancy straightens and smooths her hair. “Well, that should do it. If a man did that for me…well…I wouldn’t keep him waiting, I’ll tell you that much.”
“Don’t let Uncle Hal hear you say that. I won’t be able to keep him out of my kitchen,” Juju says.
Grandma Nancy laughs lightly. “He’d never be able to get the recipe right,” she says primly.
