Page 94 of Shark Bait

“Five minutes ago, you guys were scrolling through his band page and saying he’s a whore.”

My mom gasps. “Troy Helena Montgomery, I never said that about your brother.”

I cock my hip, put my hand on it, and look at Aunt Emmy Sue with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, you did, Nancy,” my aunt confirms.

“Well,” Mom says, “then I better stop drinking.”

“Ya think?” I mumble on my way to get whoever’s ringing the bell. “Coming!” I shout as I pass by my dad on the couch, feet up on the table, football game blaring through the living room.

“Don’t get up to get the door, Dad.”

“Wasn’t going to.”

A pleasant-looking young man in a brown uniform smiles on the camera we have at the entrance.

I open the door. “Hi,” I greet him.

“Montgomery?”

“Yes, that’s us.” I look past him at the small army of people carrying Thanksgiving food from the van up the driveway and toward the house. I prop the door with a piece of wood. “Mom!” I shout. A second later, she’s telling the people where to place the items on the big table. Soon thereafter, she’s calling my brother Dakota, who comes out of his room and helps out. My other brothers, Carl and Simon, are in California together this year with Carl’s boyfriend’s family.

We’ll probably end up on a video call with them later.

It takes us about half an hour to set up the table, and I’m hoping baby Mira will nap long enough for me to eat. I plan toenjoy a glass of wine with my meal and one more after I put her down for the night, but not before I give her a nice bath. She loves her baths.

I’ve just set the last fork and knife beside a plate while Aunt Emmy Sue unwraps the rest of the side dishes over by the portable tables we’ve set up for our buffet style Thanksgiving when the door rings again.

“That must be Denver and Levi,” my dad says like some butler who won’t get the door.

“Thanks for the heads-up, Dad.” I roll my eyes and get the door for Levi, who walks in first.

He spreads his arms. “How’s my favorite girl doing?” His smile drops instantly. “Oh, never mind. Where’s Mira?”

“Jeez, she’s sleeping.” I step aside and get a pathetic peck on the cheek.

Denver comes in next. He’s all pooped out, probably because of the scandal.

“Hey,” I greet him. “You okay?”

“Not really, no,” he says. “But let’s say that I am.”

“Is it the news?” I ask quietly. His bandmates and the girl he brought stand behind him, so I get out of the way and take everyone’s coats. As the band comes in, the atmosphere becomes loud and cheerful. My hands are full of coats I need to hang. I do that beside the door and go to close it when I notice a man still outside.

“Oh, hey, sorry about that. I thought everyone came in. Welcome,” I say, hoping that’ll move him inside. It’s November, and the cold breeze is blowing into the house, but the man stands on the doorstep, hands in his pockets, gaze down. Long brown hair is tucked behind his ears, and a beard covers his face. A black sweater and jeans over black cowboy boots look kind of hot on this dude.

“Mike, is that you?” my dad calls out.

The man looks up.

I know those brown eyes. They’re warm and kind as they look at me and arrest my breath. I know those hands and how they’re tucked inside his pockets the way Shark often did because he would never encroach into my space unless invited. I’m standing there and he’s standing there, and I don’t know what to do.

That’s not true. I know what to do, but I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to pretend I’ve never met this man before and invite him into the house as if we’re strangers. I want to throw myself at him and bury my nose into the crook of his neck and inhale the familiar scent of his soap. I want him to wrap his arms around me and hold me tight, so tight that I feel like we’ll never part again.

I touch my now-flat belly and wiggle my fingers. His gaze drops to the ring he put on my finger, which I never took off. Not even when my dad asked me why I’m still wearing it. I told him I’m saving it for Mira. It’s too pretty and too expensive to sit in the chest on my dresser.

Shark gives me a small nod. I don’t know how this man can remain chill when I want to burst out of my skin, but he does.

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