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The boys ate fast and then dragged Tor back to the games with them so it was just my parents, me, and Hunter.

She sipped her drink and I could see some of her tension return. My hand went back to her leg again. I wished I could say something to her without my parents seeing.

Mom sat back in her chair and I could see her trying to read Hunter. I didn’t like it. I wanted to kick her under the table, but she’d probably ground me.

“It’s so nice to have you here, Hunter,” Mom said. “I’m just hoping some of your style will rub off on my daughter.”

“Hey!” I said. “I dress fine.”

Mom turned her glare on me. “Sweatpants are not appropriate for family meals in public, Katrina.”

I cringed. “Seriously? You’re going to first name me?”

My face went red and I turned to see how Hunter was taking this.

“I’m afraid I’m not an authority. I wear a lot of yoga pants,” she said, shrugging.

“I’m not asking for her to dress like a model, but can you convince her to wear an outfit that looks like she didn’t just come from the gym?” Mom said to Hunter.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Hunter said, giving me a mischievous look.

“Wow, I did not come to this lunch to get ganged up on!” I said, pretending to be offended.

“Well maybe you should have dressed better,” Dad said, winking at me.

“Wow. I think I’m going to try my luck with the kids,” I said, pretending to get up.

“No, don’t go,” Hunter said, grabbing my arm and laughing. “Stay.”

“Okay,” I said, dropping down into my chair again. “But only because you asked.”

She smiled at me and I smiled back at her and I knew we were being obvious but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop being like this around her.

“Should we get dessert?” Dad said, his voice loud.

“Absolutely,” I said.

“Yes, please,” Hunter agreed.

“Has Stace told you that she won the state spelling bee championship?”

I rolled my eyes. “Mom, that was a million years ago. It doesn’t mean anything. I’m literally almost thirty years old.”

Hunter let out a little snort next to me.

“Spelling bee champion, huh? Can you spell perspicacious?”

I looked at the ceiling and spelled the word without pausing.

“How about choledocholithiasis?” Mom asked, her eyes glittering. She loved this game and always threw in tons of medical words for fun.

I spelled the word and Mom nodded. “That’s my baby.” There were tears in her eyes.

“Jesus, Mom. Get a hold of yourself.”

“I’m not allowed to be proud?”

My face was on fire and I wished Hunter wasn’t seeing this, but she had a soft smile on her face next to me.