Page 55 of The Skinny

“I really can’t complain.” Especially when I thought of Aithan’s modest upbringing and Drew’s nightmare.

My parents lived in a sprawling mid-century modern two-story on a treed lot in Bellingham’s Edgemoor neighborhood. The driveway curved down from the road, bringing us to the two-story guesthouse, the garage, and the main house. The yard ended in a cliff and the blue expanse of Bellingham Bay shimmered beyond that.

The driveway provided parking for four cars and the California license plate on the silver sports car parked beside the garage caught my eye. “Greerdrove?” I muttered. “That’s really weird.”

“Why?” Aithan pulled up beside the guesthouse.

“Because she came from San Francisco. She and Theo always fly.”

Hell, Greer being here for Thanksgiving was odd enough. They also always spent this holiday with his family in Boston to celebrate his mom’s birthday.

What the fuck?

It seemed like that question and Greer went hand-in-hand these days.

The glass-and-iron front door opened, and my mom emerged from the house looking smart and adorable in black slacks and a dark-blue sweater with amber leaves embroidered at its collar and cuffs. She had a bright smile and chic, boy-cut, silver hair. I inherited my blue-green eyes from her but not my figure. Mom was itty-bitty at five-one and less than one hundred pounds.

“One more thing? Mom will expect hugs.” I opened the door and slipped out of the SUV.

“Oh, honey,” she said as I hugged her close, “you look fabulous!”

“Thanks, Mom.” I’d worn skinny camo jeans, a thin-knit gold sweater, gold hoop earrings, and black ankle boots.

Drew got out and Mom lit up. “You’re Drew! Give me a hug and call me Undine.”

“Okay.” He grinned and gave her a big hug.

Mom beamed. “You’re a good hugger. I like that!” Then she scurried around the SUV to the driver’s side as Aithan climbed out. “And you’re Aithan. I’m Undine and goodness you’re tall! Get down here and give me a nice hug.”

Like Drew, Aithan laughed and hugged my mom. My guys weren’t shy, and her enthusiasm didn’t intimidate them.

The front door opened again, and my dad strode across the driveway. My height and long legs came from him. He had thick, white hair and calculating gray eyes that weighed and measured Drew and Aithan even as he made a beeline for me. “Hi, Punky, was the drive okay?” He wrapped me in a big ole Dad hug. He smelled like citrus and sandalwood and authority, the same way he’d always smelled because he’d been using the sameSovereigntyaftershave my entire life.

I steered him to the guys. “Not bad. Slowdowns around Everett and Mount Vernon.”

“As usual.”

“Yep.” I introduced him to Aithan and Drew. He helped unload the Audi. The guys had brought my mom flowers, gold and white mums for the dinner table.

“Oh, these are lovely.” She cradled the round vase and looked happy as a pig in slop.

“Zel’s food, Undine?” Drew asked, hefting the cooler bag.

“Bring that into the main house. I made room in the fridge. Come on, I’ll show you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Aithan, Dad, and I carried our luggage into the guesthouse, leaving Drew’s computer bag on the sofa.

“How’s work, Punky?” Dad asked as we walked around the outside of the main house. Dad liked to show off his home to visitors.

“Good. I’m almost finished with a massive novel. Hated every minute of it, but the author paid extra, so that took a bit of the sting off.”

“Money always does,” Dad remarked.

“Yeah, but I could’ve recorded two of Drew’s books in that time. And his work’s much more fun.”

Dad grunted and gave me a measured look. “Make sure you keep getting paid to narrate his work.”

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