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The corner of his mouth quirks up like he can see into my mind and knows exactly what I’m thinking. The thought should be unsettling, but it isn’t.

“Isn’t that right, River?” At the mention of his name, he quickly looks away.

“What was that?” he asks, clearly not paying attention to the conversation, which makes two of us.

“I said that at NCU, they don’t have as many things planned for family weekends.” If his mom noticed the stare-off we were having, she doesn’t let on. “When you attended there, we only ever went to one.”

“That’s because he lived just a few minutes away and we saw him all the time,” Lyric interjects.

“Well, that too,” her mom agrees. “But also because it wasn’t nearly as big of a deal there as it seems to be here. When we went to school there, there was no such thing as family weekend.”

“Are you trying to remind everyone how old we are?” Her husband, Mike, nudges her with his shoulder.

Michael Parker is a man of few words. Something River didnotinherit from him, but Lyric did. She has his softness. His humbleness. His kind eyes.

“No one forgot, Pop.” River snorts out a laugh when his father shoots him a look.

“Laugh now, but one day, you’ll be my age.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles.

I can’t help the way my own mouth tips in amusement. I love my family, don’t get me wrong, but they are not nearly as entertaining as this lot, especially when Dalton and the girls are around too. I envy what they all have.

I’ve always wanted a sibling. Someone I could share the kind of bond that Lyric has with her brothers. Someone who would always have my back. That I could fight with, laugh with, grow up with. But alas, my mother was not able to have any more kids after me. Honestly, she’s lucky she even had me. The doctors didn’t think she would ever have children. As such, she’s always called me her miracle baby. And while my parents love me fully and unconditionally, I’ve always felt like something was missing. A loneliness I could never quite outrun.

Pushing my half-eaten plate of food to the side, I relax back into my seat with a glass of water pressed between my hands, fuller than I should be given the amount of food still on my plate. Then again, given the size of the sandwich they gave me, it’s no wonder I couldn’t finish it.

I turn my attention back to the conversation, stifling a laugh when Lyric kicks River under the table for bringing up her living arrangements, which neither of her parents is very happy about.

I’m honestly surprised Kai didn’t join us for lunch, but I guess he chose to meet up with Jackson and Maisie instead, giving Lyric some time alone with her family. Well, and me, asit were. Though none of them make me feel like an unwanted tagalong, which I appreciate, given that I feel bad enough for crashing as it is. Not that Lyric gave me much of a choice.

“Jealousy does not look good on you, brother.” Lyric gives him a look that saysif you don’t shut up right now, I’m going to kick you again, and this time, it’s really gonna hurt.

“Yes, I’m so jealous. Didn’t you know I wanted Kai for myself?” He presses a hand dramatically to his chest.

“Ha. Ha,” she deadpans. “You know what I meant. Ever since Annie—”

In an instant, it’s like all the air is sucked from the room, the tension so thick, it’d take a chainsaw to cut through it.

“Don’t,” River cuts her off with a quick shake of his head, the two exchanging a look.

“I’m just saying, not every woman in the world is a lying cheater.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I’m single because I like it that way?” He’s careful not to look at me and I’m glad he doesn’t because I have no idea what he’d see on my face if he did.

“I don’t think youlikebeing single. I think you’re afraid...”

Afraid of what? I want to ask when she trails off.

“Afraid?” He barks out a humorless laugh. “I’ve dated plenty of women since Annie.”

“And you always break things off every time things get too real for you.”

“Or maybe I break things off because I realize they aren’t right for me.”

“Perhaps this isn’t the best time and place for this conversation,” Heather cuts in, looking between her two children.

“Or maybe that’s just what you tell yourself to keep anyone from getting too close,” Lyric continues like her mother hasn’t even spoken.

“Because you’re my sister, and I love you, I’m going to ask you nicely to let this go.”