Page 67 of Exile and Embrace

Becca comes over to help me, sliding on oven mitts as the timer starts beeping. “I hate just sitting down and watching everyone else do the work.”

I step to the side, allowing her to pull out the garlic bread. “Thanks. I have to admit, I like cooking, but with nursing, I barely have any time for it.”

She nods and puts the tray on a trivet. Her gaze is bright, the warm smile still in place. It falters when she glances down. “Beautiful necklace.”

“Thanks. My dad gave it to me.” I turn off the stove as the pasta finishes cooking. “If this tastes awful, I’ve got the number for the local pizza place on speed dial.”

She chuckles and makes a show of sniffing the air. “It smells amazing in here. I’m sure it’s going to be delicious.”

I wish I had her confidence as I dish up the food, trying to make it look as nice as possible.

Becca helps me bring it to the table, taking the seat beside her husband and putting their bowls down.

Finn pours me a glass of wine as I take my seat. “Thanks for the dinner, Aves.”

“You’re welcome.” I take a sip of wine before tasting the pasta.

Flavors explode on my tongue, the basil and garlic blending with the cream perfectly.

Cillian nods after his first forkful. “This is spectacular.”

Becca takes another bite before sipping her wine. The smile she gives me is hesitant but honest and open.

This might be going better than I thought it would. Which is good.

Finn needs to make a good impression with his boss.

I’m going to owe Brooklyn a massive thank you for this recipe.

Finn shovels food into his mouth, stopping every now and then to say something about the business to Cillian.

I barely hear it. I’m too busy trying to focus on not spilling pasta down the front of my shirt.

I can almost feel Becca’s gaze on me a few times, but she doesn’t say anything.

One of those times, I catch her eyes, and she just smiles. I take a sip of my wine and she does the same, drinking it quickly before turning her attention back to her food.

Does this mean this dinner is going horribly? What if she decides to go home and tell Cillian to cut ties with Finn?

I don’t know what that would mean for Finn, especially after all that he has already done for Cillian.

Finn may not tell me everything, but I know enough to know that if he isn’t careful, he’s going to land himself back in jail. Or worse.

Cillian is the first to finish, putting his fork to the side. “So, Ava, how are you liking Portland? Finn tells me that you’re not working right now because you’re looking into some family history.”

I nod and twirl more of the pasta around my fork. If I don’t keep my hands busy, my heart is going to race until it feels like I’m about to explode. “I never thought that I would love living somewhere it rains constantly, but Portland has really changed my mind about that.”

“I imagine it would.” Cillian leans back in his chair, draping his arm over the back of Becca’s. “How’s the search for the family history going?”

I shrug one shoulder, the corner of my mouth turning upward. “It’s interesting. It turns out that there’s a lot I don’t know about my family.”

Becca stands up with a polite smile. “Excuse me for a moment. Where is your washroom?”

Finn points down the hallway. “Just down there. First door. You can’t miss it.”

Cillian’s eyes are glued to his wife’s back as she hurries away from the table.

Her heels click against the floor until she disappears into the bathroom.

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