Page 109

“Today’s a catering company day again?” I asked as Allison and I walked toward the living room. I almost touched her lower back but stopped myself just in time.
“Yes,” Meredith replied. “Everyone had a very full week, so we didn’t have time to coordinate cooking among ourselves.”
“Why’s that?” Allison asked.
“It took us a long while to convince Gran to stop cooking for so many people. So now at gatherings, she uses a catering company, or each of us cooks something and we bring it by. More of a potluck type of get-together.”
“That’s smart.”
Half the family was already in the living room. Jake, Natalie, and their daughter, Meredith, Cade, Penny, Spencer, and Ben. The twins were all over Ben already. I was happy that the little guy wasn’t jealous that there were two more kids in the family.
Colton and Zoey were here too. The two of them stopped talking when they saw us. Colton actually flashed me a grin, which almost made me do a double take. Our oldest half brother wasn’t usually one to grin or be very humorous, but things had changed since he’d met Zoey, and the family had grown closer.
I realized that it wasn’t just Colton and Zoey who were looking at us, though. Everyone else was too. What had Gran done, spread the word to everyone?
Of course, that was precisely what she’d done. Why would that even surprise me?
“Hello, you two,” Jake said.
“Hi.” Allison sounded a bit shy. It was hard for me to remember that she’d only met the whole family once.
“This is the very official welcome to the family. Don’t know if Nick filled you in.”
“He didn’t!” She playfully swatted my shoulder.
I flashed her a warning look. Touching was dangerous. That was the thing with Allison: I could never touch or kiss her even just a little bit. It was all or nothing.
“Yeah, it actually is,” I replied. “Jake’s right. When my grandparents ask you over, it means you’re a Whitley now.”
Before all of this, the thought of me showing up here with a woman had been unthinkable. I was fully aware that this had happened under odd circumstances, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wanted Allison here with me for all the other times that Gran asked us over. I wanted her to celebrate Christmases and birthdays with my family.
I wanted her and the twins in my life forever.
The recognition completely shocked me. That wasn’t what we were doing at all. We were staying together until she got custody, and that was it. But when I thought of someone taking my place, that didn’t sit well with me either. Not at all.
I could be a good boyfriend. But what if I could be a good husband too?
“So, what was that about a quiche?” I inquired.
“We saved you some,” Natalie said. “I had to fight for it.”
I started to laugh.
“They’re really delicious, with ham and parmigiano and a lot of other things,” she went on.
She pointed to a plate on the huge dinner table. Even though my grandparents had gotten progressively longer tables over the years, we’d come to the point where we couldn’t fit enough chairs around it, so we took turns eating.
As Allison and I both reached for a quiche, I put my hand on her back. It was instinctive; I needed to be connected with her one way or another. I didn’t realize I was doing it until I heard Natalie whisper something behind me. I didn’t catch much, but the wordscozyandclosefiltered through to us.
I caught Allison’s eye, and she chuckled. Oh, what the hell. I was certain that by the time the day ended, everyone would know. And why shouldn’t they? I was opening myself up for conversations that I wasn’t ready for, but I’d just roll with it.
“All right. The rest of the clan is here too,” Spencer exclaimed.
Allison and I turned in unison to see Gabe, Leo, and Maddox arrive with their partners.
“That was the last quiche, wasn’t it?” Gabe said, pointing at me.
“Yes,” I replied proudly.