Page 38 of Better Than the Beach
“How’s it going?” he asks, and I pull out my phone to check the notifications.
“Everything is on time,” I say after reading a few texts. “All going as planned.”
I press START on the machine, and when I finally glance at Oliver, he’s smirking at me.
“You’re nervous as fuck.”
“Is it obvious?” I ask with a laugh.
“Not a bit, actually. You’re cool as a cucumber.”
“Well, it’s an act. I’m nervous as fuck.”
Oliver drops a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“It’s going to be great, Nolan. I’m really happy for you, and Bev is ecstatic.”
Oliver doesn’t elaborate, but he doesn’t have to. BevhatedColleen with a passion, but BevlovesCassie. I just grin and pick up Cassie’s fresh mug of cocoa.
“Thank you,” I tell my youngest older brother. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I bring Cassie her fresh mug of hot cocoa, and the smile she gives me is fucking radiant. Then I find myself talking to Mallory and her mom Naomi about the gift they got my brother Joel for his birthday last month. It’s some sort of meat smoker, which is Joel’s newest favorite hobby, and Mallory is not happy about it.
“It was cool at first,” Mallory says, “but now every time I go over there, Dad’s got some new meat for me to try, and my stomach just can’t handle it.”
“Well, at least I convinced him to take it from the garage into the shed. The whole house was starting to smell like beef,” Naomi says, and I can’t hold back my laughter.
I’m laughing so hard that I almost miss the vibrating of my phone in my pocket.
Almost.
My eyes go wide, and my heartbeat kicks up as I pull the phone out and check the message. Mallory’s hand clasps onto my forearm.
“Uncle Nolan, is he here?” she whispers, and I nod.
“Five minutes,” I say.
“Is it weird that I’m nervous?” Naomi asks, and Mallory snorts out a laugh.
“It’s okay, Mom, I’m nervous too.”
I tune them both out, then maneuver myself so my back is to the wall, and I have the perfect view of both Cassie and the entrance to the family room. Then I check my watch every minute on the minute for the next five minutes, until I hear the faint sound of car doors opening and shutting in the driveway. I glance around the room and catch the eyes of each of my brothers, but Cassie is still chatting unaware with my mom and Andrew. I swear, I don’t breathe until I hear the front door open, and then I don’t blink until my brother Joel appears in the doorway of the family room.
“Ho ho ho,” he says jovially, getting everyone’s eyes on him. “I’m sorry I’m late, but I had to pick up some special packages.”
Then he steps out of the way, and two girls walk in with giant smiles on their faces.
“Oh my god!” Cassie jumps from where she was perched on the piano bench and rushes to her friends, tackling them both in a hug. “Oh my god, what are you doing here?”
I can hear Ivy and Bailey giggling, but before anyone can answer Cassie, her parents walk into the room, and Cassie squeals louder. She moves to try and hug all four of them at once, and then her mom and dad start laughing, too.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my god, why are you here?”
I can hear the happy tears in her voice, and I’m filled with relief. I was excited for Ivy and Bailey to show up—Cassie talks about how much she misses them regularly—but I was nervous about her parents. They’ve only recently started talking again, and I was hoping the relationship had been repaired enough that their presence here for the holiday wouldn’t cause Cassie stress. From the looks of it, I made the right call.
Cassie is still crying when she finally releases them, swiping at her tears and calming her giggles.
“Seriously, though, what are you doing here?” she asks again, and it’s Bailey who pipes up.
