Page 92 of Burning for Alexander
“I’m Ella, Alex’s sister. My grandparents own the old Legacy Inn and Lodge, only now it’s a private family residence. We usually host holidays there and invite whoever needs a place to be. You’re very welcome to join us tomorrow. I look forward to sharing the day with you.”
Somehow, I managed to introduce the two of them, and then Karim came out with Kaidee’s food order, and I made a beeline for the back door.
Ella raced behind me. “Alex, what’s going on? Why are you upset that Judd and his girlfriend are coming to?—”
“She’s not his girlfriend!” I snapped. “They’re just friends.”
Ella’s eyes rounded. “Okay, sorry. Why are you mad that Judd and hisfriendare coming to Thanksgiving? I know he gives you a hard time, but you did agree to extra inspec?—”
“It’s not about the inspections,” I said. “It’s not. I just… It’s fine. I’m tired, El. Okay? That’s all. I’m being moody and unfair. I was already in a bad mood, and now Papa and Dad are insisting I come over there and probably stay up too late and get woken up too early.”
Her mention of the extra inspections reminded me that they were done. According to our agreement, they should have been over after the one today. So at least that was something. He wouldno longer have an excuse for his bullshit appearances any old time he wanted to.
I thought about Kaidee. Why was she here? Had he called and invited her? Had he finagled an invitation to Thanksgiving on purpose, or had he been roped into it by one of my well-meaning family members?
Did it matter?
Did I care?
Of course I cared.
I blew out a breath and went upstairs to find Tavo. When I entered the living room, he and my barback jumped apart on the sofa, and I stared at them for a beat.
“Hello, Drew,” I began. “Tavo. I see you two finally met?”
Tavo began to blink like eyelids had gone on deep discount and he’d bought out the store. “Yeah, so, uh, yeah.”
Ella snorted and turned her back to the room so she could close her eyes in glee.
“Right. Well, carry on,” I said. “Wait. Except… we’re headed to the lodge for Thanksgiving, and my family wanted you to come.”
Tavo’s cheeks were deep red. “Oh, er. It’s just that…”
Drew blurted, “Mom invited him to our place for Thanksgiving. I-if that’s okay.”
“You two know that I’m not your parents, right? And that you’re both over twenty? Because I’m feeling like I’m expected to set curfews or listen for the telltale sound of a window sliding open later tonight.”
Tavo groaned and threw himself back on the sofa. “I didn’t know how to tell you I wanted to go to Drew’s for Thanksgiving. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t?—”
“Tavo,” I said, dropping a hand on his shoulder to squeeze. “If I could go to Drew’s with you, I would. I don’t begrudge you a normal holiday tomorrow. You two have fun, okay?”
They both grinned. God only knew what the two of them would get up to once Ella and I were gone. Suddenly, I was glad I was getting out of Dodge.
Once we were in Ella’s car on the way out to the lodge, she turned to me and asked if I was feeling better now.
“Yeah,” I lied, flashing her a smile. “I’m great. It’s going to be fine.”
It was not, in fact, fine.
28
KINCAID
To:OpSec Director, Sillar, Johns, and Covey
Re:Request Replacement Device/Online Access
Judd Kincaid:Due to the accident that led to my evacuation to Ramstein, my personal phone was lost/unusable. Please advise if a replacement device can be issued or if I have authorization to procure one locally in order to reestablish secure online access. Respectfully, Judd Kincaid
