“Well, let’s not waste time standing in the entrance,” Lily says, slipping her arm through mine. “Come into the dining room. I want you to meet my husband.”
The dining room opens into a wide space filled with people, noise, and warmth. A long wooden table stretches almost the length of the room, already covered with dishes.
Platters of golden fried chicken glisten under the light. Bowls of creamy mashed potatoes, topped with melting butter, sit beside thick brown gravy. Green beans cooked low and slow with bacon. Warm biscuits stacked high in a basket. Baked macaroni bubbling at the edges. Something sweet lingers beneath it all, rich and comforting.
At the head of the table stands a tall man who looks like an older version of Cas, with silver threaded through his dark hair and steady blue eyes.
“Josh,” Lily calls. “This is Lexy.”
His expression softens immediately as he steps forward and offers his hand.
“So you’re the young woman my son rescued from the cold.”
Dex’s hand finds my back again, firmer this time, like he knows I need the anchor as I step forward. I glance at him, and his eyes meet mine briefly, checking.
“I didn’t rescue her,” Dex mutters behind me.
Josh ignores him completely.
“It’s very good to meet you, Lexy. Any friend of my son’s is welcome in this house.”
And just like that, the tight knot in my chest loosens a little.
I nod. “Thank you for having me. You have a gorgeous home.”
The dining room feels louder now.
Voices overlap. Someone laughs too hard at something I didn’t hear. Plates clatter. It feels like stepping into something alive and already in motion.
“Everyone,” Lily announces, guiding me forward, “this is Lexy.”
Several heads turn toward me at once.
Some I recognize. Penny, Cas, Summer, Ethan.
One I don’t, but I remember seeing him once before at the bar.
“This is my twin, Jude,” Dex says beside me.
Jude gives me a small nod. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I answer, instinctively matching his quiet.
Lily points to an empty seat, and I move toward it, aware of everything and nothing all at once.
Dex settles beside me before I even look at him. His presence, his warmth, the familiar scent of him, all of it takes the edge off the noise pressing in around me.
“I’m glad you came,” Penny says immediately.
Ethan lifts his glass slightly in greeting.
“Told you she would.” He nods at Cas, who hands him a twenty, watching Dex instead of me like this whole situation is extremely entertaining.
Dex looks at his parents to make sure they’re not facing us, then flips them off. Cas and Ethan just laugh harder.
For a second, I feel it again. That sharp fear that I don’t belong here.
But it doesn’t stay.
