Page 56 of All Yours

“Hey,” he smiled, his eyes popping against the olive-colored Henley shirt in the overhead light. “Was coming to check and see if you needed help since Franny abandoned you.”

“No worries. I was double checking to make sure we got everything from the table.”

“You know you didn’t have to do it,” he said, rounding the table toward me.

“I want to make a good impression.”

“Oh, they all love you,” he said, reaching over and taking my hand.

Franny didn’t love me. She might love to take me out to the middle of nowhere and leave me for dead. And the rest of them wouldn’t be too keen on me roping Jonah into this fake relationship for my public image.

“It looks like you got everything,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.

“I’ll wait a bit before going back into the kitchen. Your parents are in there kissing.” I leaned against his chest.

“You poor thing. You had to witness that. It’s traumatic,” he whispered.

“No.” I laughed. “I think it’s so sweet.” My parents had never behaved that way. I wasn’t even sure my parents even liked each other. But I hadn’t seen them in years, and things change.

Jonah kissed the top of my head. He definitely got his loving nature from his dad. A man that wasn’t afraid to show affection. A twinge of guilt hit me. Was I taking advantage of Jonah?

“Hey Sloane,” Patty said, entering the room. “You want to see Jonah’s baby pictures?”

“No,” Jonah answered. “She does not.”

“Oh, but I do,” I said, trying to step out of Jonah’s arms, but he held on.

“See, she said no,” Jonah said, holding me close to him.

“That’s not what I said,” I laughed, struggling to get away.

“Jonah,” Patty said. “We are showing your girlfriend the baby pictures. Might as well accept it now.”

I pressed my fingers into his sides, and he jumped, releasing me.

“Ouch,” he said, rubbing his sides, “You fight dirty.”

“It’s photo album time,” Patty announced as Jonah’s parents entered the room holding hands.

“How fun,” his mom said. “Here, let me show you ones of Jonah as a naked baby.”

“She’s not interested in seeing those,” Jonah announced.

“Sure, I am.” I said, following everyone into the living room, leaving Jonah behind.

Chapter Twenty

Sloane

“Are you serious? She said that?” Eden leaned forward in the booth seat, laughing as I recounted the experience with Franny in the kitchen at Thanksgiving Dinner.

“Yes,” I exclaimed. “It’s weird, right?”

“Girl, Franny’s gonna kill you.” The hair piled atop Eden’s head blew in the breeze coming in off the lake. Adrian had a few of the bay doors open along one side of the restaurant, taking advantage of a warm snap at the end of November.

“Well, it’s been a good run,” I quipped.

“I’d avoid situations with her from now on.”

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