Ella shakes her head. “It’s really fine. She’s not eating much yet anyway.”
“She managed to swallow some though, I think.” Jesse laughs. “That’s progress.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have gone with the applesauce,” Ella says under her breath, then smiles at Cora anyway. “You’re just a mess,” she says playfully.
Karissa turns to Addison and Wesley. “How long have you guys been together?”
“Since New Year’s!” Addison replies, smiling big and proud.
“Oh, so…newish. That’s fun!”
“Officially,” I chime in. “You want the truth…they’d been dating since first grade.”
Karissa’s eyes go wide and she looks at me, like I just revealed a deep family secret.
Addison’s dinner roll hits my chest and falls into my lap. “Nuh-uh.”
“Hey,” Mom calls from the other end of the table.
“I wish.” Wesley laughs, giving Addison a nudge against her shoulder. She gives him a smile that I’ve only ever seen her wear around Wesley. They definitely love each other. There’s no doubt about that.
“Wait, I don’t get it,” Karissa says, her eyes flicking between the two of them and then to me.
“It took Wesley that long to grow a pair is all,” I explain.
Wesley laughs along with everyone else. Except Mom; she gives me the cocked head and squinted eye.
“Oh, he knows I’m just yanking his chain,” I tell her.
“Well,” Karissa speaks up, “I’m sure you didn’t wanna ruin the friendship.”
“Exactly! See? Someone gets it,” Addison says, glaring at me.
“Not even a kiss? Like, just a peck?” I ask, pushing just enough to stir the pot.
Addison goes red instantly. “No!”
“Nope.” Wesley shakes his head. “Just worried about ruining the friendship and, you know, there were some other obstacles in the way.” Wesley laughs again, lifting his hand onto the back of Addison’s chair and looking over at her.
Addison bats her lashes at him. “Sorry, I’m just that clueless,” she murmurs, like that’s some kind of inside joke.
The conversation shifts into something else for a little while. I watch Karissa eat; she seems to be enjoying this. My family, the jokes, the teasing, listening to stories.
Mason leans back, just far enough to look in our direction. “You ever watchThe Dukes of Hazzard, Karissa?”
She pauses midbite and shakes her head. “No.”
Everyone turns, silverware freezing midair. Addison gasps. Even Ella stares at her like she committed a crime.
“I’m sorry,” she says quickly, laughing.
“Girl,” Addison says. “You’re in for a treat.”
“She is,” I say, nudging her knee under the table with mine. “We’ll watch it after we eat.”
“Okay, what’s it about?” she asks, and the table erupts, everyone speaking at once, trying to explain the main premise of the show in their own ways.
* * *
