Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Fine. I was elected to ‘Make Sure He Doesn’t Bail.’ My job is to pick up you and Tavo and bring you to the lodge tonight. Mandatory family fun starts at o’dark thirty tomorrow.”
I glared at her. “No. I reject your interfering ways. I will come to the lodge when I get up in the morning and not a minute sooner.”
She gave me a mock-pitying look. “’Fraid that’s not an option, Alexander the Grape. It’s my way or the highway. Actually, it’s my way, or Uncle Derek said he was bringing the stun gun. Apparently, you owe him a game of Sequence, and he intends to get you to pay up tonight.”
I groaned. The last thing I needed was Marian interference in what had become my nightly pity-party ritual.
“Make concessions,” I insisted. “If I go tonight, I can leave right after the meal tomorrow.”
She held out her hands in an “I don’t know, I don’t make the family’s stupid rules” shrug. We both knew once I was under the tractor-beam-like powers of our fathers, there was no way I was leaving before midnight tomorrow. We also both knew if I didn’t come tonight, our parents would just turn up here, wondering what was wrong.
And there was absolutely nothing wrong.
“Fine. I need to tell Tavo and pack a bag.”
She hopped up and followed me out to the front of the house so I could tell Mali to stop seating people if she hadn’t already.
But when I got as far as the bar area, I stopped and stared.
“Hey, Alex,” Kaidee greeted me with a friendly smile. “How are you? I’m just here grabbing pizza since I got in too late to cook, and Judd had to work late.”
Her words struck like boulders to the chest. “Oh. You’re here for Thanksgiving? With Judd?”
I hoped my voice sounded breathy and high only to me and not to everyone else. Unfortunately, I felt my sister’s eyes on the side of my face.
“Yeah, but he said your family invited us to Thanksgiving out at their place. A historic inn, I think? Is that right?”
This couldn’t be happening.
“Oh,” I managed to say. “Yes, well.”
Thankfully, Ella sensed my freak-out and took over.
“I’m Ella, Alex’s sister. My grandparents own the old Legacy Inn and Lodge, only now it’s a private family residence. We usually host holidays there and invite whoever needs a place to be. You’re very welcome to join us tomorrow. I look forward to sharing the day with you.”
Somehow, I managed to introduce the two of them, and then Karim came out with Kaidee’s food order, and I made a beeline for the back door.
Ella raced behind me. “Alex, what’s going on? Why are you upset that Judd and his girlfriend are coming to—”
“She’s not his girlfriend!” I snapped. “They’re just friends.”
Ella’s eyes rounded. “Okay, sorry. Why are you mad that Judd and his friend are coming to Thanksgiving? I know he gives you a hard time, but you did agree to extra inspec—”
“It’s not about the inspections,” I said. “It’s not. I just… It’s fine. I’m tired, El. Okay? That’s all. I’m being moody and unfair. I was already in a bad mood, and now Papa and Dad are insisting I come over there and probably stay up too late and get woken up too early.”
Her mention of the extra inspections reminded me that they were done. According to our agreement, they should have been over after the one today. So at least that was something. He would no longer have an excuse for his bullshit appearances any old time he wanted to.
I thought about Kaidee. Why was she here? Had he called and invited her? Had he finagled an invitation to Thanksgiving on purpose, or had he been roped into it by one of my well-meaning family members?
Did it matter?
Did I care?
Of course I cared.
I blew out a breath and went upstairs to find Tavo. When I entered the living room, he and my barback jumped apart on the sofa, and I stared at them for a beat.
“Hello, Drew,” I began. “Tavo. I see you two finally met?”
Tavo began to blink like eyelids had gone on deep discount and he’d bought out the store. “Yeah, so, uh, yeah.”
Ella snorted and turned her back to the room so she could close her eyes in glee.
“Right. Well, carry on,” I said. “Wait. Except… we’re headed to the lodge for Thanksgiving, and my family wanted you to come.”
Tavo’s cheeks were deep red. “Oh, er. It’s just that…”
Drew blurted, “Mom invited him to our place for Thanksgiving. I-if that’s okay.”
“You two know that I’m not your parents, right? And that you’re both over twenty? Because I’m feeling like I’m expected to set curfews or listen for the telltale sound of a window sliding open later tonight.”
Tavo groaned and threw himself back on the sofa. “I didn’t know how to tell you I wanted to go to Drew’s for Thanksgiving. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t—”