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Chapter 10
Katrina
Today is Thanksgiving,and I’ve been running around my apartment for the last few hours trying to get my nerves to unravel. I’ve never brought someone to Thanksgiving before, let alone a guy. Or a guy that was as hot as Bryce. I know my parents. This can only end in embarrassment for me.
This seemed like such a good idea at the time I invited him. Stupid, stupid Kat.
I’ve paced a hole into my carpet by the time Bryce comes down from his apartment. I open the door and let him in after hearing him knock.
“Hey ,Kitty Kat. You doing okay? You look a little pale.” He puts a hand on my shoulder.
“No, I am not okay. Just really nervous. I-I’ve never brought a friend home for anything. Just … please promise me that if my parents embarrass me, you won’t take off.” Already, my eyes sting with tears.
“Kat, look at me. I’m not going anywhere. I promise. They can tell me stories or show me baby bath pictures, and that still wouldn’t scare me from being your friend. Kat, I promise you.” Bryce pulls me into a protective hug. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I sniffle. “Okay,” I squeeze him back as my head rests against his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, and like many times before, I use it to help steady me. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Bryce takes my hand and squeezes it. I wish I could explain that the last time I brought someone home; I was in high school. The guy wanted to ask me to homecoming. I stupidly agreed to go, and I had no idea I was being set up. After everything that had happened, I should have realized the set up, but I was young. I thought things would change. How wrong I was.
Bryce and I hop into his truck and head out to my parents’ house. I’m not much for conversation right now, and he doesn’t push me. We hop on the highway and are greeted by all the billboards along side it. But behind the signs you can see the beautiful mountains that surround the valley. The blue sky as the backdrop is a beautiful backdrop to them. My parents live close to Lone Mountain, and the scenery there’s so much more different than on the Strip. You’re away from the tourists, away from the hustle and bustle of the casino. It’s quiet and serene. The closer you get to the mountains by my parents’ house, the less like it feels like the city of Las Vegas. It’s cleaner and more suburban. Houses litter the streets, gated communities and parks surround you. There are no crazy lights or billboards, no packs of people hanging over a table waiting for Blackjack, there are zero scape lawns and a sense of calmness. When we’re almost there, his phone dings with an incoming message. I can see his brows furrow and his lips form a thin line. He doesn’t look happy.
“Everything all right? You look mad.” I ask him.
“Yeah, I’m fine. No worries,” He shrugs. I nod and look out the window, wondering what’s ruffled his feathers. Bryce is usually calm and collected. I shake it off, thinking nothing more of it.
After we park, we make our way to the front door. Bryce had stopped to get a couple of bottles of wine for my parents tonight, ones which are now in my hands. I thought that was nice of him to do, and my mother will love the gesture. He’s definitely going to score points with that.
I open the door and am immediately greeted by the smell of food wafting from the kitchen. I can hear the endless commotion of chatter, clanging dishes, and laughter coming from the kitchen and family room.
“Hello? Mom?” I yell over the sounds of football blaring through the family room TV speakers. I peer around looking for her.
“Katrina! I’m in the kitchen!” my mom yells back.
Bryce and I walk over to the dining room and into the kitchen. I stop in the entryway, grinning wide.
“Hi, mom.” I place the bottles on the counter and run to give her a hug.
“Oh, baby girl.” She squeezes me tight.
“Mom, ribs. Breaking—”
“Oh! Sorry,” She laughs and lets me go. “And who is this handsome gentleman?” my mom asks, turning to look Bryce up and down curiously.
“My name is Bryce, ma’am.” He holds out his hand, but she brings him in for a hug.
“We hug in this family, and it’s Liz. None of that ma’am shit.” She grins.
Bryce nods and gives her one of his signature smiles. “Okay, Liz.”
“Fast learner, this one! I like him already.” She turns to me and points out into the family room. “Your dad is in there. Go take Bryce to meet him and they can watch the game together while we finish up for dinner.”
“I would be happy to help.” Bryce offered.
“Nonsense. You are a guest in this house, and guests get football. Well, my husband and guests get football. I won’t let that man near the food. He’s always trying to add his own to our tried-and-true recipes.” She shakes her head, rolling her eyes with a smile. “I’ve banned him from the kitchen. Go. Football.” My mom shoos us away.
Bryce and I head over to the family room where my dad and Jonathan, my sister’s husband, sit on the couch.
“Dad, John, this is my friend Bryce. Bryce, my dad Mark and my brother-in-law, John.”