Page 68 of Pinch

Gina gives a big smile, turning to the guys. “There’s beer in the kitchen. Follow Gavin. He’ll show you.”

They take off, following me as the doorbell rings again. I take a quick glance to see it’s Lisa, one of Gigi’s dog-breeder friends. She points at the sign and bursts out laughing. Gina gives Haddy the “I told you so” treatment, and I grin, leading the guys to the beers.

It’s another party like Halloween, only without the costumes. Mav plates the turkey burger patties and heads out the back door to cook them on his big green egg. I step back to the living room, wishing I could get Haddy alone.

Instead, I see her greeting Timothy at the door. He gives her one of those weird little monster dolls dressed in a turkey outfit.

“Isn’t that cute?” She takes it from him, turning it in her hands. “I’ll have to find a place to put it.”

I have an idea for a place.

“Time to eat!” Mav calls from behind me, and Haddy looks up, her pretty eyes meeting mine.

She blinks quickly, almost seeming startled, and my brows lower.What’s going on, Hayden?I wait as she and Timothy head in my direction to the table. He stays by her side, but when she gets closer, I trace my finger over the back of her wrist.

Her hand turns, and without looking, she gives it a gentle squeeze. It’s not much, but at least it’s positive.

“I don’t knowhow you guys can keep up that schedule.” Timothy is on his third glass of red wine. “When do you ever have time for a personal life? Or is that something you even want?”

I don’t know if he’s aiming that comment at me, but I’m ready to answer when Donovan jumps in ahead of me.

“It’s not so different from any other demanding job. The hours are just different.” He straightens in his chair, putting his hand on the back of Gigi’s beside him. “We prioritize relationships just like doctors or firemen or people in the military. They’re all pretty tough schedules, yet they manage to have personal lives.”

“Don’t forget scientists!” Mav jumps in with a laugh. “Haddy works just as long hours as we do sometimes.”

I’ve noticed my girl hasn’t touched her wine. She’s barely eaten anything, and I don’t like that. Is it possible her stomach is still messed up? It’s been a week. We really need to talk.

“Not so much this semester,” she counters. “That was when I was assisting Dr. Warwick and had to grade all those papers. That was rough.”

“That reminds me…” Timothy is running his mouth again, only this time, he clutches her arm, and my eyes narrow. “I’m assisting Dr. Becker next semester.”

“That’s amazing, Timothy!” Haddy moves her arm out of his grasp and pats him on the shoulder. “No papers to grade in that job.”

“Nope, just processing grad school applications.”

“You’re selecting the next generation.”

The two of them share a laugh, and I stand, collecting the empty plates. “I gotta hand it to you, Mav, I didn’t know you could do that with ground turkey.”

“That was turkey?” Saxon’s eyes are wide, and Donovan stands to help me clear the table.

“It’s Thanksgiving!” Mav explains how he infused the turkey with onion powder and grated mushroom, and as I expected, Haddy stands to collect their empty plates as well.

Timothy tries to stand, but she puts her hand on hisshoulder. “No, no—you’re a guest. Stay right here and have dessert.”

He tries to argue Donovan is helping, but she argues she’ll take over for him. Our team captain appears in the doorway, and Haddy puts her hand on his arm.

“Guests don’t clean. Go sit and have dessert.” He starts to argue, but I back her up, taking the glasses from his hand and nodding to the other room.

I’m glad she and I are on the same page about being alone in the kitchen.

As soon as the plates we’re holding are rinsed and put in the dishwasher, I catch her around the waist. “I’m thankful we finally have a little alone-time.”

Her hands are on my chest, and her lips tighten. “We need to talk, Gav. Wait here.”

I don’t like the sound of that, but I do as she asks, listening to her telling Gigi she’ll take the dogs for a walk and finish cleanup when we get back. Gigi and her friend offer to help, which elicits another complaint from Timothy.

Haddy handles them, and as soon as she returns, she shoves Spanky’s leash into my hand and grabs my wrist, pulling me to the door.