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“Don’t you listen in on our secret conversations,” I said over my shoulder. “You could never keep us apart. We have too much dirt on each other.”

“So true,” Jonathan said with a shudder. He gave me a hip bump.

I couldn’t remember a day when I’d smiled as much. Everything had been, quite simply, perfect. It almost helped me forget about the fact that I was hosting the dad-I-never-knew-I-had for the first time. I’d taken to calling him that for the truth of the nickname and the rhyming scheme.

“You ready?” Kyle asked quietly as I sank onto the couch next to her twenty minutes later. It was twenty to six and I thought I’d steal the time to relax. Enjoy the company of the room.

“Tackle him!” Elizabeth screamed at the top of her lungs and leapt to her feet, ready to bust through the screen and do it herself.

“She has a lot of feelings,” Devyn said matter-of-factly and gently ushered Elizabeth back down to the love seat they occupied.

“Well, I have the pecan and the pumpkin set out. I mean, it’s too early for the ice cream. But I guess I could soften it.”

“I mean areyouready?”

Aha. She was checking on my anxiety level, which was moderate to I just googledCan you die from overthinking?“I’m going to be. Just my first official social event with…him.”

She gave my knee a squeeze, and it instantly slowed my breathing. I didn’t know how Kyle had such a centering effect on me, but I was grateful.

A short time later, the doorbell rang, and I opened the door withthe smile I’d planned on, the one that saidWelcome to my home. It’s Thanksgiving and I’m thankful for your presence. Surely I’d nailed it.

“Savanna!” Peggy enthused. She wore fire-engine red lipstick and had her hair in a French braid. “I can’t believe we’ve known each other all these years and never visited each other’s homes. I’m so glad we’re doing this.”

“Me, too,” I said. “Come in. Come in.”

“Hi,” Jake said from behind her. He wore a maroon sweater with a gray and maroon striped tie underneath it, which I found touching. I’d never seen him dressed so nice, which meant he cared about today. His cheeks were rosy, which told me he was nervous, too. More so than when I’d seen him at the donut house.

“Hi.” I met his eyes, realizing they really weren’t far off from my own. Trippy. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He held up a covered dish. “We brought the pie. She made it. I just do the carrying.” He laughed nervously and moved past me into the house.

“Both count!” I said back, just as nervous. I followed them in and stood off to the side as my friends greeted the newcomers.

“Ohhh, I’ve heard all about you,” Peggy said, pulling Kyle into an embrace. “Everyone has a crush on you, ya know.”

I raised an amused eyebrow at Kyle, who sent me a news-to-me face. “Really? Well, that’s not something I was aware of.”

“Half of those people who show up in that ER are not injured, I’ll have you know. They confess all their sins to the donut ladies. Part of the job. Have you met Jake?” She hooked a thumb. “He spends too much time doing crossword whatevers, but other than that is a pretty good fella.”

She turned to him. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Kyle Remington.”

I grinned. “What a name, right?”

“Real nice to meet you,” Jake said, giving her hand a squeeze. “Brought some pie,” he said to the room. Everyone exclaimed their excitement and gratitude, and I went about taking orders. Once everyone was squared away and in the midst of conversation, I turned to Jake, who’d joined me in the kitchen.

“I’m not quite sure what to say,” he said, “but I think it’s really nice of you to extend the invitation.”

I raised one shoulder. “I thought it might be a nice way to get toknow each other. Did you see Charlie today? I don’t think he’s happy with me.”

“Ah, yep. He’s on his heels. I should have been more up front with him all these years. Hell, I should have been more up front with myself.”

“With me, too.” I still wasn’t over that part. No one had been honest with me. Not one person.

He nodded and sobered. “With you, too.” A pause. “I like to think I’m a better man today than I was back then.”

I nodded.

“As for Charlie, he needs time. He’s a good guy.”