Page 147 of A Little Tempting

I can’t decide whether I’m grateful it’s only my immediate family here or if a bit more chaos in the form of Finley and the rest of the gang would make today’s brunch a little easier. Not that it matters. We’re here, and there’s no going back. Not anymore.

“Hey, Reeves. What’s up?” Griffin greets him, doing the manly hand grasp, pull-in, back slap thing guys do.

Ollie returns the gesture, lets him go, and lifts his chin to greet Jaxon. “Hey, man.”

“Hey.”

“Hi, Reeves.” My mom hugs him, and Oliver’s eyes widen in surprise as they connect with mine over her shoulder. His body stays frozen in place until she steps back, giving him space.

My dad, however, only offers his hand for Reeves to shake. “Reeves.”

“Mr. Thorne.” Reeves takes it, his jaw tight as he holds my dad’s stare. And with a single shake, they each step back.

Okay, this is weird. Nothing over the top, but the last time my dad saw Reeves, he was friendly. Now, he’s…I don’t know, more tense? Defensive, maybe? And it’s strange because I’ve literally never seen this side of him. Then again, I’ve also never introduced him to a boyfriend, so maybe this is normal?

Ignoring it, I smile up at Reeves one more time and announce, “Should we eat?”

“Finally.” Without waiting for any further prodding, Griffin grabs a plate and dishes his food. The rest of us follow suit and move to sit around the dining room table. It’s quiet and weirdly tense, and I kind of want to crawl into a hole and never come out.

“Juice?” Reeves asks from beside me.

I nod. “Yes, please.”

He pours us some orange juice, and my dad leans forward, watching with interest as I reach for my glass and take the first sip.

“So,” my dad clears his throat, “tell me about yourself.”

Reeves shrugs. “Not much to tell.”

“I’m sure there’s something,” my dad counters, as chilly as he was earlier.

“Let’s see…” Reeves scratches his jaw. “I grew up right outside of Lockwood Heights with my dad. I’ve played hockey my entire life. I like movies, TV shows, games, sports, your daughter, uh…yeah.”

“Way to slip it in there,” Jaxon notes behind the rim of his coffee mug.

Griffin’s chuckle cuts off when my mom elbows him in the ribs.

“That’s interesting, Reeves,” she tells him as she dishes up a few cubes of fruit. “Do you have any other family? Siblings or anything?”

“None I’m aware of. My mom married my dad pretty young, and her parents weren’t fans of the guy, so they never came around, especially after she died.” He pauses, looking thoughtful. “I think they passed away three or four years ago, but honestly, I’m not sure. It was hard to keep track of any of it. As for my dad’s side of the family, he wasn’t from around here. From what I understand, he also had a shi—uh, not good—relationship with his parents, and…yeah. As far as I know, I’m an only child, but that’s taking my father’s word for it, and from my personal experience…”—he forces a smile and stabs a piece of pineapple—“it’s not always the brightest decision.”

My mom’s fork makes it halfway to her mouth before she frowns and sets it down on her plate. “Oh? Was your dad…active?”

“Mom, don’t ask about his dad’s sex life,” Griffin interrupts. “It’s gross.”

With wide eyes, my mom argues, “I wasn’t, I was?—”

“Don’t worry about it, Mrs. Thorne,” Reeves interjects after he swallows the piece of fruit he’d eaten. “I know what you’re asking. There were rumors when I was little about another brother from a previous relationship or something, but when I asked my dad about it, he said it was bullsh—uh, not real, and it hasn’t come up since.”

My mom’s mouth twitches, and she glances at me as she picks her fork up again.

“So, I take it you’re not close with your father?” my dad demands.

Holding his chilly gaze, Reeves answers, “Not in the slightest.”

“Dad,” Griffin mutters through a mouthful of waffle, giving him a look telling him to back the hell off, and my chest warms.

At least someone’s on Reeves’ side.

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