Page 80 of Forsaken Oath

Graham’s fork pauses mid-air. “Another Reaper,” he says, his tone neutral but tinged with something I can’t quite place.

Cora’s head lifts, her voice firm but quiet. “Jagger trusts him. He’s a friend.”

Ma doesn’t miss a beat. “Speaking of trust, have you and Jagger given any thought to?—”

“Mom.” Cora’s tone sharpens, and the table goes still. She presses her lips together, reaching for her water glass. “Can we not?”

Ma hesitates, clearly caught off guard. But she recovers quickly, smoothing a hand over the edge of the table. “I just think it’s something you should consider. Marriage is a big step, and if you’re moving in together?—”

“Ma,” I cut in, my voice light to ease the tension. “You’ve got three other kids to interrogate, you know.”

Ma huffs but relents, turning to Graham and me with a raised brow. “Your sister is never here.” She gestures toward Abby’s empty chair. “Eternal bachelors, the lot of you.”

Graham smirks, spearing a piece of meatloaf. “Not true. Beau’s actually seeing someone.”

The bite of meatloaf I just swallowed feels like a rock in my throat. I cough, reaching for my water as my eyes dart to Graham.What the fuck, man?

Ma’s face lights up. “You’re seeing someone? Beau, why didn’t you tell me? Who is she? You should bring her to Sunday dinner next week.”

I wipe my mouth with my napkin, stalling. My mind flails and words fail me. “It’s, uh, not like that,” I say, trying to sound casual. It’s a fucking lie if I’ve ever told one. But I don’t want to bring Eloise into this dynamic, not until I have her so tangled up in me she won’t run from the lunatics at this table.

Ma’s brows lift in disbelief. “So you’re not dating anyone?”

How do I explain Eloise Hawthorne to my mother? How do I say she’s mine when I don’t even have the words to explain it to myself?

Graham smirks, leaning back in his chair. “Don’t listen to him, Ma. They’re serious enough to go on a little getaway together.”

My head snaps to him, but he just leans back in his chair, looking far too pleased with himself. And just like that, the pieces click into place. He knows about the cabins.

Shit.

“Graham,” I grind out, my voice low and warning.

Ma’s excitement only grows. “A getaway? Oh, itisserious!”

“It’s nothing like that,” I say quickly, forcing a laugh. “Just spending time with someone. No big deal.”

Ma’s excitement doesn’t dim. “Well, I hope we get to meet her soon. It’s about time one of you boys got serious about dating.”

“Yeah, Beau,” Graham adds, his voice dripping with amusement. “When are we meeting her?”

I shoot him a glare that saysI’m going to kill you later,but he just chuckles, clearly enjoying himself.

Across the table, Coraline watches the exchange with a mix of curiosity and something else—concern, maybe. “Does this mystery woman know what she’s getting into?” she asks lightly. “Because Sunday dinners are”—she sighs—“a lot.”

“Oh, hush, now, Coraline. Don’t freak your brother out before we get to meet the girl.”

I shake my head, steering the conversation away. “Dessert,” I declare. “Are we trying something new?” I direct the question to my sister, throwing all of us a goddamn life raft to get out of this conversation.

Because she’s the fucking best, she picks up on it right away. She scoots her chair back and stands up, tossing her napkin onto her plate full of meatloaf.

Cora pushes back her chair, standing with a small smile. “I’ll get dessert.”

Jagger’s arm slides around her waist as she passes, murmuring something that makes her laugh. It’s a soft sound, but it carries. Warm and easy.

When she disappears into the kitchen, I turn to Graham, lowering my voice. “What the hell, man?”

He arches a brow, cool and unaffected as always. “Oh, are you mad that I know about your little romp in my fucking pool?”

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