Chapter 6: Meet the Family

JAMIE

Thursday family dinner is a thing we do to spend quality time together.

Mom is the big cook, and the rest of us devour everything she puts on the table.

Coming over for dinner, I always know my jeans are going to be bursting when I leave.

I had gotten off work earlier than usual, with plans to eat quickly and then meet Carmen for some late-night shopping.

I needed an outfit for the Christmas party—the Christmas party Carmen was forcing me to attend, might I add.

I was hiding in my parents’ hallway as I chatted on the phone with Ryan.

Given how the date had gone the other night, he was checking up on me. Funnily enough.

“So you’re doing okay?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I’m doing good, Jamie. I don’t want you worrying. You know, I would be doing even better if I could see you again?”

Such a charmer. I leaned against the wall with a smirk. “Hmm, is that so?”

“I’ve been thinking about you.”

One half date and it’s left him thinking about me. I’d say that’s a job well done. He seems quite invested in getting to know me more.

“Likewise.”

“I’m free for a second go tomorrow night if you’re up for it?”

I sighed. “I have my work Christmas party tomorrow. But I could do Saturday if that works for you?”

“Could do Saturday. I’ll arrange something and let you know.”

The door to the kitchen opened. Mom popped her head out and smiled. She mouthed “dinner” and I nodded.

“I should go, Ryan. I’ll see you Saturday, okay?”

“Bye, Jamie.”

I sat down at the table with my parents. Mom had a big spread set out and I took everything veg. “Looks wonderful, Mom.”

“As always, she’s been at it all day, there’s even a cheesecake in the fridge,” Dad said.

“Oh, nice!” I looked across the table at Mom. “What kind?”

“Strawberry.”

Of course. It made me think of Ryan, simple and sweet just like that strawberry cheesecake.

He’s just the sort of guy I need in my life.

I glanced over at my dad, in his seat at the head of the table. “How’s work, Dad?”

“Oh, the usual, just thinking of my retirement. Then your mother and I can travel the world just like we always planned.”

My mom smiled at him. “Just a couple more years, Clay.”

My parents met at school. Dad was a big footballer there.

But Mum got pregnant with my brother, Jake, they decided to elope, and Dad’s dreams of going pro were pretty much over.

With a family to support, he decided to become a lawyer just like his father was. But the excitement of the travel plan is looming.

The front door opened.

“Hello!” my brother shouted as he came through the hallway toward the kitchen.

Jake is the other lawyer of the family. He walked in wearing his suit, direct from a long day at the office.

“You started dinner without me?”

“I made you a plate, love. Sit down and I’ll bring it over.”

Mum was right to it, grabbing his meal from the kitchen area. She’s become used to fussing over everyone.

“So how was your date with Ryan, Jamie?”

She already knew every detail of it; she’d called that night to find out.

“You know how it went, Mum.”

“Only over the phone. And everyone else wants to hear.”

She settled back at the table and waited. My mum is a relentless woman.

“We had dinner at the Bradford. It was really nice. Ryan is so sweet, and we’ve got plans to go out again on Saturday.”

Jake chuckled. “Wining and dining his way into your pants.”

I glared at him. “Shut up, Jake. Maybe that’s the way you think.”

He chuckled again. “That’s the way all men think, Jamie.”

He always gets me so riled up. Jake and I used to fight like cats and dogs, but as we’ve gotten older it’s become bickering, or him taunting me.

I rolled my eyes. “At least I have a dating life. It’s more than I can say for you.”

“Hold it. Wasn’t it just last weekend you went to the cinema alone? This dating thing is recent. Let’s not pretend here.”

I turned to Mum, knowing she was the one who had told Jake about that outing. “Mum!”

She winced. “Sorry! I only mentioned it to your brother because I felt bad I hadn’t offered to go with.”

I sighed. “It’s okay.” I looked down at my plate, hoping to finish the remainder of my dinner in silence.

“Mum told me that guy of yours ate a nut and had some type of reaction that made him swell up like a balloon.”

~There he goes again!~

***

Carmen and I hit the shops before closing.

I loved this time of year: the decorations, the food, the smells.

Christmas is my favorite holiday.

“That’s what siblings do best,” Carmen was saying, “annoy the crap out of you. Especially the older ones who think they get to boss you around because they’ve been alive longer.”

“He makes me so mad,” I groaned. “Loves to push my buttons, that one.”

Carmen chuckled. “Jake likes to push everyone’s buttons. That’s just who he is.”

“Maybe it’s time for a new and improved version. Especially if he wants to settle down. He is almost thirty.”

She guffawed at the ridiculousness of that suggestion, linked her arm into mine, and dragged me toward a costume shop.

“This is the new place I’ve been looking at online.”

“A costume? No way!” I shook my head. “Can’t I just wear something red and be done with it?”

“Everyone will be dressing up, and you’re the new hire. It’s your job to commit to the bit.”

Without any further discussion, she got me into the store and we started to browse.

There’s never any point in saying no to her. She won’t accept it anyway.

She held up a costume, a red velvet dress with white fur trim and a matching hat.

“Are you serious?” I asked her.

“You’re going to look amazing.” She winked. “And I bet Mason is going to love it, too.”

“Now I’m ~definitely~ not going to wear it.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be like that.” She pushed me towards the dressing room. “At least try it on. I’ll be looking at other options while you change.”

I sighed and walked towards the dressing room at the back of the store. I’d just try it on so she'd be satisfied. I felt ridiculous as I slipped on the dress. I knew everyone was dressing up for the Christmas party, but it didn’t make me feel any less awkward. I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked like Santa’s sexy helper.

Not at ~all~ appropriate for the workplace. I opened the curtain to complain to Carmen.

“You don’t seriously expect me to wear something so revealing—” The words died on my lips. It wasn’t Carmen on the other side of the curtain. His eyes locked onto mine before slowly roving down the rest of my body. His gaze lit a trail of fire across my skin.

It was Mason fucking Knight.

What the hell were the chances?