He put the easel down on the ground. “I love it.” He pulled me into his arms. “I love you.” He placed a gentle kiss against my lips. “You’re going to be my muse.”
I laughed. “So just tons of nude portraits of me, huh?”
“You can wear clothes in some of them if you want. Definitely not necessary though.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I placed my head against his chest. “And I love you so much it hurts.” Truly. It felt like everything hurt today. My heart most of all. I was sure that Kennedy was never going to speak to me again.
“She’ll call you back, baby.”
I didn’t even know how he knew I was thinking about Kennedy. It was like he could read my mind. “What if she doesn’t?”
“She will.”
Kennedy hadn’t answered my dozens of texts and calls. I hated that it was a holiday and Kennedy and I weren’t speaking. I was so sorry. I never should have told anyone her secret. Especially when she’d specifically asked me not to. And now the whole freaking school knew. But I knew she was most upset about Felix knowing. God, Felix. I didn’t know if Felix was sitting in a jail cell. But he hadn’t answered my calls or texts either, and I was assuming the worst. Matt’s lawyers were supposed to help, but it was a holiday. It didn’t seem like they’d have any news until at least tomorrow.
“Do you think I should tell my dad about Felix?” I asked. “It kind of seems like he has the cops in his pocket. He might be able to help.”
“That’s not a bad idea. But I’m sure my parents’ lawyers will update us soon.”
“Yeah. I hope so.”
“Come on, the sooner we get Thanksgiving number one over with the sooner you can be naked.”
Even though Matt seemed eager to get back, it took me forever to drag him out the door. And my stomach was twisted in knots.
“I still don’t understand why I was invited,” Mason said as we stood in the hall outside the Pruitts’ front door.
I wanted to tell him that I had no idea why either. But apparently my dad was rather persistent when it came to the fact that he thought Mason was a better suitor. I actually hadn’t known Mason had been invited until this morning.
“Mom and Dad were invited too,” Matt said. “But they’re busy getting ready for tomorrow.”
Mason laughed. “That’s a great excuse. I should have just told Mr. Pruitt I was washing my hair.”
That was a weird joke, but it made me laugh regardless. “It’s not going to be that bad,” I said and knocked on the door. I hope.
“But we’re missing the game,” Mason said.
“The Giants aren’t even playing, Mason.” It hadn’t taken me long to figure out that the Caldwells were huge Giants fans. They watched the games together as a family every Sunday.
“Yeah, but the Cowboys are playing. And we need to make fun of them.”
“Cowgirls,” Matt coughed into his hand.
I laughed. “I’m sure they’ll have the game on somewhere,” I said. But I wasn’t really sure. I’d never seen a TV in the Pruitts’ place. I assumed no television was one of the many rules I still hadn’t read.
“Princess,” my dad said as he opened the door. He pulled me into a hug. “Welcome home.” He kept his arm around my shoulders as he shook Matt’s hand. “And Mason, I’m so glad you could join us today.” He shook his hand too.
“Mhm,” Mason said. “Do you have the game on?”
My dad laughed. “Of course. I need to introduce Brooklyn to a few people. But Isabella can show you to the living room.”
I honestly couldn’t even remember where the living room was. But the last thing I wanted was for Isabella to show them anything. “I can show them real quick,” I said.
Isabella appeared from somewhere at the sound of her name. Like a witch. “Not necessary, Sissy. I’m more than happy to show them.”
I’m sure you are.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” she said as she slipped her arm through Matt’s and practically dragged him away from me.
“Come with me, princess,” my dad said. “I want you to meet the family.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Matt pushing Isabella’s hand off his arm.
Not today, Wizzy.
***
I couldn’t remember anyone’s names. I thought this was supposed to be an intimate family dinner. But there had to be at least 40 people here. And I was beginning to wonder if every uncle I met was actually a relative or not.