Page 59 of Someone Just Like You

A pit formed in my stomach. Whatwasthe deal with Thanksgiving? We were only a week from the holiday and no solid plans had been made. Every other year we’d celebrated as a family at our parents’ house. Thanksgiving dinner was the only holiday we always reserved just for us. Now that my parents were separated, would Dad even be invited?

Molly:No idea. Have either of you talked to Mom? She’s dodged my last few calls.

Admittedly, I was okay with this since Jude and I hadn’t decided when to come clean to our families that we were an item. Not telling her about Jude was a fib by omission, and I hated lying to my mom.

The dancing bubbles appeared on my screen followed by a text.

Michelle:Calling her now.

I placed the phone back on the table as Esther, Jerry, and Alex returned from the bathroom. “That was fast.”

Esther straightened her maxi skirt and sat down. “I told them not to wait for me, but…”

I beamed at the guys, who were suddenly very busy examining the menu. Their crush was seriously adorable. I was still kvelling when Jude appeared with plates of food for the table. “Hiramasa roll, salmon mango roll, spicy tuna roll, and an order of Hillstone’s famous ribs.” His lips quirked up. “Timothy’s favorite.”

I giggled. “Can you join us?”

“This is technically my pee break, so not unless I want to risk pissing my pants.” He looked at me fondly. “It’s worth the risk.” As he grabbed another chair, I moved mine over a few inches to make room.

Once seated, he turned to his roommates. “I’m sorry I left you alone with Molly for so long. She’s annoying, but she’ll grow on you eventually.”

To Esther, I said, “Same with Jude. In about twenty-seven years, you won’t want to strangle him anymore.”

While our three companions exchanged exasperated eye rolls, Jude placed a hand on my thigh and squeezed. I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was comforting how little had changed in the way we interacted. We still ribbed each other as much as ever, except now, as Jude so eloquently put it, we got to bone. I rubbed a hand along his lower arm, loving the feel of the soft hairs where his sleeves were rolled up. Then my phone alerted me of a new text.

Michelle:Thanksgiving is at the Starks’ this year—buffet style.

I sighed. So much for a Blum family holiday.

Molly:What about Dad?

“You okay, Mole?”

My heart tugged at the nickname that just a few months ago had me seeing red. “We’re having Thanksgiving at your parents’ house this year.” Did he already know?

His eyes widened, and I had my answer. “Is that a bad thing?”

I plucked the mango out of a piece of sushi. “It just breaks tradition. Everything is changing so fast.” My chin trembled. As a grown woman, the status of my parents’ marriage had no bearing on my daily life, so why did it hurt so much?

Jude inched closer to me and rubbed a hand up and down my back. “Not all the changes have been bad, though, right?”

I bit back a smile. “No. One change in particular doesn’t suck.”

“We can break the news over turkey and mashed potatoes.”

“You mean sweet potatoes with marshmallows.”

He stopped rubbing and grimaced. “Just when I think you aren’t half bad, Molly Blum, you say something like that. Next you’ll say you like canned cranberry sauce.”

“It’s my favorite!”

“We’re so doomed.”

My phone lit up. “Hold that thought.”

Michelle:Dad will be at Thanksgiving.

I beamed at Jude. “My dad is coming too.”

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