Page 27 of Skid
“Well, you can have all you want on Thursday.”
“And this is at the clubhouse?”
“Yeah, the guys go all out.” Thatch shrugs. “The holidays are always a big thing with the brothers. Kids running around, food for days, and a bonfire out back. I should’ve told you about it sooner.”
Oh.
This was big.
I would be meeting his brothers. His family. They would see us as a couple. The thought made my chest tighten in a way that felt terrifying and tender all at once. Before I could respond,Baylor gasped like someone had just announced that Santa would be there. Thatch smiled and said, “No pressure, but I’d like you guys to be there.”
“Then, we’ll be there.”
“Good deal.” Thatch lowered Baylor to the ground as he said, “Why don’t you go tell Luna goodbye and thank her for a fun night?”
Baylor nodded, then darted over to Luna. While they talked, I turned to Jenna and said, “Thank you so much for keeping her.”
“Anytime.” Jenna smiled. “And I mean that. I know how hard it can be when they’re little and you’re trying to date. It isn’t easy.”
“No, it’s not. Thanks for the offer. Luna is welcome to stay with us, too.”
“Oh, we will definitely be taking you up on that,” Grim scoffed. “Soon. Very soon.”
We all laughed, and in a blink, we were back in Thatch’s truck, driving back to the apartment. Baylor’s little feet swayed to the rhythm of the song in her head, and Thatch was holding my hand like he’d done it a million times before. This was the kind of ordinary moment I used to pray for, and now, it was part of our norm.
Thanksgiving.
The word drifted through my mind like the leaves falling from the trees. This year would be different for us. It wouldn’t be leftovers or a microwavable TV dinner. There would be turkey and dressing, and people sitting with us at the table. I wouldn’t have to pretend that life was grand when it really wasn’t.
It would be a real Thanksgiving, and this year, I had so much to be thankful for. I had a car that ran, a job where I made more than I ever dreamed of making, and a wonderful daycare for Baylor. And I had it all because of Thatch.
“You okay over there?”
“Um-hmm,” I mumbled. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“The night my car broke down.” I could feel the tears welling in my eyes as I said, “If you hadn’t seen us… if you hadn’t stopped… We wouldn’t be here. None of this. I wouldn’t have my car or my new job. Baylor wouldn’t have a new best friend. And I wouldn’t have met you, and we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
“But I did see you, and I did stop.” He gave me a warm smile. “And given the choice, I’d stop again. A hundred times over.”
I looked at him, and when I saw the sincere look in his eyes, something settled in me. Something that felt like hope and love mixed together, and it was wearing a crooked smile and a leather jacket. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like the holiday might actually feel like one.
Not because everything in my life was perfect. It was far from that. But because we weren’t alone anymore. For the first time since Baylor had been born, we had someone to share it with.
9
SKID
Ididn’t know what I liked best about Thanksgiving at the clubhouse. The people or the food. Both were enough to have me coming back for more, but damn. Tabitha’s pecan pie was possibly the best thing I’d ever had. Knowing it was going to put me in a sugar coma, I shoved another bite into my mouth and prepared for my untimely demise.
And I can tell you without a doubt that the near-death experience was totally worth it. I wasn’t the only one taking advantage of all the sweet treats. All the guys were hammering away at the multitude of deserts. Memphis was sitting across from me, and he was on plate three. Ghost was next to him, devouring plate two, and they were talking about all the upcoming football games.
“I’m tellin’ ya. Tennessee’s got it if they fix the secondary.” Memphis nods, but he’s only half-listening as Ghost adds, “And we all know Alabama will end up in a bowl. Hell, they always end up in a bowl.”
“Wish I could say the same about the Razorbacks.”
“They aren’t hungry enough for it.”
