Page 93 of Over the Moon

“To all of our new friends,” Rafe said before my father interrupted.

“Miss Eloise is a new friend,” Dad said, words already slurring, and I silently begged him to stop talking.

“Are we ever going to eat dinner?” Bridger grumped under his breath.

“Anyway,” Rafe said, looking around the table. “It’s a Chadwick tradition to finish the bottle of whiskey and break bread when we gather for the first time with loved ones, new and old.” He winked at me as if he were saving the day.

We had no such tradition, and he was making this dinner awkward as fuck.

Eloise shot Lulu a look of panic, and she quickly squeezed my brother’s arm. “Beautiful sermon, Father. Let’s eat,” Lulu said.

Laughter erupted around the table as I passed the chicken to Archer.

Platters moved from one person to the next as Randall asked for a refill. Easton poured the last of the bottle for him and opened a second.

This party could hold its own with any college party I’d ever attended.

And I was the only sober one at the table. Eloise was on her second glass of wine, and everyone else was elbow-deep in bourbon, and their words were slurring.

My father tipped his head back and emptied his glass before turning to Eloise. “Tell us, young lady, who we’ve never met before, what is it that you do for our son?”

Easton fell forward in laughter. “Why are you talking like you’re in a Shakespearean production?”

I shoved the basket of rolls at Bridger, keeping my voice low. “Hand these to Dad and tell him to eat some bread.”

“Your father has gotten more thoughtful with his words since attending all those Jelly Roll concerts,” my mother said proudly.

Sebastian held his glass up for yet another refill and then spoke. “Eloise is our team physical therapist with a dual certification as an athletic trainer. She’s quite an impressive woman. And beautiful, as well.”

Are you fucking kidding me right now?

I wasn’t allowed to admit I was actually dating her because we worked for the same organization, yet the owner can blatantly hit on her at Sunday dinner in front of everyone.

“Thank you,” she said, clearing her throat as her gaze found mine, and she looked very uncomfortable.

“Well, athletic trainer is a title that comes with years of experience,” Randall interrupted before reaching for the bottle from Easton and filling his own glass. “And she is not the athletic trainer on this team. She’s a newbie, and we’ll see how it goes.”

The nerve of this fucking guy. It took everything in me not to stand up and tell him to shut the fuck up.

“Actually,” Coach Gable said, directing his attention to Randall. “It’s a title that comes with her degree. She is both a certified PT and AT.”

“And very beautiful, as well,” drunk Sebastian said with a wink.

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen her before,” my father added, and I pushed to my feet and made my way to his end of the table. I reached into the basket that my brother had passed him and pulled out two dinner rolls.

“For the love of God. Eat some bread, Dad.” I gave him a pointed look.

“Yes, my loved ones. Break bread and be merry,” Rafe said, holding his arms out.

Had everyone lost their fucking minds?

Eloise, Henley, and Lulu started laughing, and they didn’t stop.

Everyone at the table gaped at them before joining in.

“I don’t even know what we’re laughing at, but I’m having a great time,” Randall said.

The booze continued to flow, and I did my best to encourage everyone to eat.

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