28
Devin
“What if everything’sweirdnow?”I asked as Morgan pulled up outside Mom’s house, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach at the sight of Kieran’s truck. Aiden always walked these days, and I knew Carter was in town this weekend, so I was willing to bet they were already inside.
Morgan reached out, putting a hand on my knee. “We don’thaveto go in,” he said.
“Yeah we do. It’s Sunday, Mom will kill me if we don’t show up. She’ll killyou,” I pointed out. Morgan was a permanent fixture at family lunches. Hewasfamily.
That was what I was afraid of. Would this change things? Would people treat him differently? Would they treatmedifferently?
I knew my family loved me, I’d never been worried about that in my life, but this wasnew.
I’d only brought Brad home once. Marta came to lunch with me sometimes because she loved my mom’s cooking—and me, I supposed—but bringing Morganas my datewas new.
“You’re right,” Morgan said. “But that’s still an option if you’rethatworried.”
I snorted, looking over at him. Of course he’d make me laugh when I was nervous.
He was good at that.
He was good at a lot of things.
“They’re not gonna be weird,” Morgan said. “Aiden and Carter both know I’ve had a thing for you since forever. Pretty sure Kieran’s clued in, too. And your mom.”
“Last to know,” I smiled wryly. “Too busy trying to hide my embarrassing crush on my brother’s best friend to notice.”
“If it makes you feel better, none of them knewyoufelt that way. As far as I know.”
“I was so scared you’d figure it out and stop talking to me,” I admitted, covering Morgan’s hand on my knee with my own, sliding my fingers between his.
“Never,” Morgan promised, squeezing my fingers.
We sat for a moment in silence, watching a bird stack twigs in the branches of the big gnarled oak tree in front of the house. Mom had been warned a dozen times that it’d eventually strangle the pipes, but she wouldn’t remove it. Based on the amount of time Aiden, Kieran, and I had spent climbing it—and falling out of it, and running inside in tears—it was practically a family heirloom.
“Come on,” Morgan spoke up after a few minutes had passed, once the bird was resting. I wasn’t the kind of person who could tell one bird from another—I knew the difference between an eagle and a sparrow, but this little guy was a mystery to me.
I was willing to bet Morgan knew, though. He knew somuch.
I couldn’t wait to learn some of it.
“We’ll go inside, crowd around the table, eat your mom’s incredible food, and then I’ll grab you a coke and kick your ass at Mario Kart.”
“You say that every week.” I smiled as Morgan climbed out of the van, pulling the passenger-side door open before I was finished unclipping my seatbelt. The perfect gentleman. “And you’ve still never kicked my ass.”
Someone else might’ve just been doing this because the relationship was new, but I knew Morgan. He’d always open doors for me. Just because of who he was.
“Well,” Morgan said, grabbing the flowers he’d brought for Mom from the back of the van. “This week, my luck might change.”
“Baby!” Mom enthused as she opened the door, pulling me into a hug and squeezing me tight. “Aiden tells me congratulations are in order. Did you bring the medal? Can I see?”
I laughed, producing the medal from my pocket while Morgan stood patiently two steps behind me, holding the bunch of flowers he’d brought far enough away to save me reacting to them.
I’d only sneezed once on the ride over, so we’d decided flowers for Mom were still a good idea. I didn’t mind a sniffle or two for the look on Mom’s face when Morgan gave them to her.
Besides, this family lunch wasdifferent. Morgan wanted to make a good impression, even if he was telling me he wasn’t worried. I knew him.
“Come in, come in,” she stepped back, waving us inside. “Is this the new boyfriend I’ve been hearing whispers about?” she asked, beaming broadly at Morgan.
