“Sounds about right.” Brinley comes around the corner with a large platter containing the turkey. “Just give him ten minutes, and he’ll try to convince you to sleep with him.”
“I don’t do that, little Sanderson,” he argues.
“Yes, you do.” I look up at him as I release him from my hug. “You were trying to get into my pants the whole night when we first met.”
“I was just trying to get Sanderson to come to his senses. I was being a good friend.” He drops a hand on my shoulder. “And it worked, didn’t it?”
“Well, hate to break it to you, Zeke, but I will never be interested in you,” Maia says, heading around the island to help bring food in from the kitchen.
“Because you’re still pinning after Bowman?”
Maia freezes and then shakes her head. “You’re not my type.”
“I’m everyone’s type,” he replies. “Are you worried that once you get a taste of this, I’ll ruin all future men for you?”
“You’re cut off.” Declan claps him on the shoulders and then nudges him to his spot at the table.
“I haven’t even had a drink yet.”
“Then you should definitely be cut off.” Declan walks into the kitchen, grabbing the mashed potatoes out of Maia’s hands. “I’m sorry about him, Maia. He doesn’t have the best manners.”
“It’s fine.” She follows him back to the table. “If Ember still hangs out with him, there must be a reason.”
I wrap my arms around Maia and give her a tight squeeze. “Don’t worry, you’re not sitting next to him.”
I motion to a seat between me and Brinley, and Maia sits down. I sit next to her, leaving the seat between me and Zeke open for Declan.
“Can you see what’s taking the rest of the guys so long?” Brinley asks Declan. “I didn’t slave away in the kitchen all day for the food to get cold waiting for them.”
“You got it.” He winks at her and then runs down the hallway to find Jaxon and Jeremy. A few minutes later, they come out, and he heads upstairs to find Fletcher.
“Sorry, Brin,” Jeremy begins, “I was on the phone and lost track of time.”
“It’s okay.” She hands him some green beans. “Can you bring these to the table? And you,” she points to Jaxon, “bring these.” She hands him another platter before grabbing one of her own.
We sit around the table and wait for Declan and Fletcher to join us so we can start eating, and once they do, Declan takes the seat next to me and wraps his arm around the back of my chair. This leaves only two seats, one between Fletcher and Jeremy and one between Brinley and Jeremy.
Jaxon looks at Brinley like she’s supposed to tell him what to do, but before she even has time to respond in any way, Fletcher does for her. “Tate’s on her way. Her mid-term got started late.”
Leaving Jaxon one option… sitting next to Brinley.
“We don’t have to wait for Tate to start eating, right?” Zeke asks. “Because I’ve been smelling this food all day, and I don’t know if—”
“We can eat,” Brinley replies. “But first, we have to say what we’re thankful for.”
“I’ll start,” Zeke volunteers. “I’m thankful that Brinley cooks for us, even though we don’t always deserve it.”
Declan smiles at me as the thanks begin to go around the table and mouths;I’m thankful that I got you to take a chance on me.
I mouth backme too, as we get to Jaxon, who glances at Brinley before saying, “I’m thankful for my teammates. I love you guys.”
Brinley’s face falls, but she doesn’t miss a beat as she says, “I’m thankful for my friends. You guys,” She points around the table, but I don’t miss the way she doesn’t point at Jaxon, “especially you ladies; you’re my rock.”
“I love you,” Maia and I say at the same time.
“I’m thankful that my best friend cares enough about me that she hasn’t told her brother I go to school here. And for the new friends I’ve made since coming here.”
“That’s why Cam isn’t here.” Zeke’s arms fly up in the air, and we laugh.
