Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Mitch has been an amazing help. He even buttered the biscuits before putting them in the oven.”
Flashing me a smile, Mitch popped a piece of said biscuit into his mouth.
“That’s our mother’s trick of the trade. She usually sprinkles garlic over them, too,” Skylar said.
“Hey! Hey there, Sky, don’t be giving all the family secrets away,” Mitch said with a smile.
Reaching for Skylar’s left hand, I kissed my grandmother’s engagement ring. “One of these days, we’ll all be family, so y’all might as well start sharing the secrets now.”
Skylar’s face blushed while she chewed on her lip.
God, she was sexy as hell, even when she wasn’t trying to be.
When I glanced over to my mother, she wore a huge smile. “Let’s get to eating, shall we?”
“I’ll grab the stuffing!” Skylar said.
Mitch, my father, and I helped carry all the sides into the dining room.
Mitch sat down next to my father.
“Have you heard from your parents, Mitch?” my dad asked him.
“Yes. They called Sky and me earlier today.”
“Are they enjoying themselves?” Mom asked while passing the potatoes around.
Skylar chuckled. “I’d say so. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mom sound so giddy before. Today, they were going to go see Big Ben and then do a trolley tour of London.”
“Better them than us. I bet it is cold and rainy there,” Mitch said, taking a heaping spoonful of stuffing.
“Well, I’m glad neither of you had a game, so you were able to come here and celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s been fun, cooking for everyone.”
Dad, Mitch, and I settled into a conversation about football while my mom and Skylar talked about the engagement party our parents wanted to throw for us over spring break. Even though I’d asked Skylar to marry me last spring, we’d kept it pretty quiet. Our parents were afraid, with us still being in high school, that rumors would fly about a pregnancy.
The doorbell rang, and my mother jumped up. “Oh! I’ll get that!”
“Are you expecting anyone, Alice?” my father asked.
“One more guest.”
We all looked around the table, completely lost.
“Who else could she have invited?” my father asked.
It must have hit Skylar and me at the same time.
“Oh no,” we both said at once.
When I glanced over to Mitch, he was deep into his second helping of stuffing and gravy.
“Look who stopped by to join us,” my mother said.
Michelle rounded the corner and then came to a stop when she saw Mitch.
It only took a second for him to register Michelle was there, and he jumped up out of his seat. “Michelle.”
It was pretty clear from the way Michelle’s smile had turned to a look of pure evil that she was not happy about seeing Mitch.
She turned to my mother. “You told me he wouldn’t be here.”
Placing her hand up to her temple, my mother frowned. “I did? Are you sure?”
“Yes, Alice, I’m positive. I asked about five times.”
Skylar stood up and walked over to Michelle. “Well, you’re here, and I’m sure you’re starving. No sense in leaving now.”
“Did you have a hand in this?” Michelle asked Skylar.
Shaking her head, Skylar replied, “Nope. I’m not that brave.”
Mitch slowly sat, as did the rest of us. Michelle made herself a plate, and not once did she look in Mitch’s direction.
My mother cleared her throat and asked, “So, Michelle, how have you been, darling?”
Glaring over to Mitch, she shot him a dirty look. Then, she turned back to my mother and replied, “I’m doing well. Ready for this year to be over.”
Clearing her throat, my mother kept going, “Will your parents be gone for Christmas as well?”
“I believe so.”
“Well, you’re more than welcome to join us for Christmas.”
Michelle smiled warmly at my mother. “Thank you, Alice. But, most likely, I’ll be in Waco, looking for a place to stay.”
Everyone looked at Michelle, including Mitch.
He set his fork down and asked, “You’re really going to transfer?”
Michelle turned to look at him and nodded. Barely whispering, she said, “Yes.”
“I have two bedrooms at my place, Michelle. Why in the world would you think you needed to find a place?” Skylar quickly said.
My mouth dropped open. Is Skylar really offering up her apartment without talking to me first? If Michelle moved in, there would go the only private place Skylar and I had together.
Michelle looked between me and Skylar. “Well, I figured y’all wanted your space.”
When Skylar gave me those puppy eyes, there was no way I could say no. After all, it was Skylar’s apartment, not mine. It would have been nice for her to discuss it with me first though.
I shrugged. What am I supposed to say? No? “I don’t mind. Like Sky said, it has two bedrooms, and they’re on opposite sides of the apartment.”
Michelle’s eyes lit up. “I won’t stay long. Just until I figure out if I’m going to stay at Baylor or not.”