Page 107 of By Invitation Only

I nodded. “I never thought I would be, but—I love him.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“A few months.”

“And you’re just now telling me?”

I swallowed. “I would have told you sooner, but we’ve been keeping it a secret because we have a few cases against each other and he’s on track to make partner. We don’t want the wrong people to find out beforehand. Once he makes partner, he said he’d withdraw from the cases.”

“When will that be?”

“In a few weeks.”

“And if he doesn’t make partner?”

I blinked at his question. Booker and I had never discussed if he didn’t make partner. I assumed it would be the same scenario and he’d withdraw from the cases—or I would.

“I’m not sure,” I answered honestly. “We haven’t talked about it other than him withdrawing after he makes partner.”

“Since you only have a few weeks and it seems that you’re not under investigation which means no one has reported you, I think it’s safe to say to just wait and see what happens with his career. But there are more steps that you need to do besides withdraw from the cases.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

Before he could answer his question, the doorbell chimed.

“Pey, honey. Can you get that?” my mother called from the kitchen.

“Yeah,” I hollered back and stood.

“I want to meet him,” Dad stated. I wasn’t sure if he ignored my question because he didn’t have time to tell me everything that needed to be done or what.

I turned to face him and smiled. “Okay.” Then I went to open the door.

A lady I’d never seen in my life was holding a bottle of wine, and three men flanked her. One was around her age, and the other two were either mine or slightly older.

“You must be Peyton,” she stated. “I’m your mother’s friend from Book Club.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “Evelyn.”

“Yes.” She smiled. “This is my husband, Fredrick, and my sons, Daniel and Dylan.” They each stepped forward, and we shook hands one at a time.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” I gestured for them to come in. “My mom is in the kitchen and my dad—”

“Fred. Evey,” Dad greeted and walked around me to shake Fredrick’s hand and give Evelyn a hug.

“These are our boys,” Evelyn announced, and my dad shook their hands.

I felt two sets of eyes on me when my dad was talking to his friends.Awkward.

“Give Peyton your coats and let’s go in the kitchen. We’re just waiting on my brother and his wife and kids.”

“Great.” Fredrick nodded, and the four of them began to unzip and unbutton their jackets.

One by one they handed them to me and then left me standing, jackets piled in my arms up to my head.

I’ll just meet everyone in the kitchen.

The rest of the family arrived shortly after, and once everything was placed on the dining room table, thekidswere able to plate their food before we ate at the breakfast table and kitchen island. I sat at the table with Daniel and Dylan, and my cousins Rylie and Brendan, while my cousins Emery and Brice sat at the kitchen island.