Page 11 of Off the Beaten Path

Finley ignores me, holding her hand up in front of her mouth to cover it as she whispers loudly to June. “Don’t tell him about the belly button ring.”

June giggles, and I let out a long sigh, massaging the spot between my eyebrows. The women in this family have made it their personal mission to make life as difficult as possible for me.

Grey smirks in my direction and nods at the fridge. “I brought beer.”

“You shouldn’t need alcohol to get through a family dinner,” Mom chides from where she’s stirring her pasta dish on the stove.

“You’re right,” I say, pulling a beer from the fridge and popping the cap off on the edge of the counter before taking a long sip.

Mom rolls her eyes, turning back to the stove. “Dinner is almost ready.”

I move past her, pausing to drop a kiss on the top of her head. As much as this family teases and taunts one another, we’d all do anything for each other, especially for Mom. I’ve never known my father, and Finley’s dad passed away before she was old enough to remember him, leaving Mom to raise a one-year-old and a five-year-old all alone.

Most days, I’m barely making it trying to keep June alive and healthy. I can’t imagine how she did it with two of us.

“What can I help with?”

Mom smiles at me over her shoulder. “Nothing. Everything is ready.”

The five of us move through the kitchen easily, a choreographed dance perfected over the years. It’s chaotic and loud and sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out, but it’s also simple and easy in a way most things aren’t anymore.

“I met the nicest woman in the shop today,” Finley says as soon as we’re all sitting down, plates and silverware clattering.

I ignore her, using tongs to scoop salad onto my plate, knowing exactly where she’s planning to take this conversation.

“She’s single too,” Finley continues, her voice taking on that singsong quality I hate.

“I’m sure Grey knows her,” I deadpan.

Grey smirks at Finley, propping his chin on his fist. “Yeah, Fin, can you describe her for me?”

“She’s off-limits to you,” Finley says, glaring at him before turning back to me. “I gave her your number.”

I lob a crouton in her direction, and she squeals, the sound echoing through the house.

“Children,” Mom scolds, and we all get quiet enough to hear the clock ticking on the wall.

“Sorry, Mom,” I murmur under my breath before fixing Finley with a withering stare. Somehow, when I walk into this house for family dinner, I revert to my childhood self. Childhood Holden had a lot less restraint when it came to dealing with the nuisances in his life,

“So tell us about this woman,” Mom says, a mischievous lilt to her voice.

I let out a long breath, the dull throb returning right between my eyes.

“Her name is Emily, and she’s twenty-nine,” Finley says, pushing a lock of her long, golden blond hair behind her ear.

I cut her off. “Sounds like a perfect next wife for Carl Sanders. Did you hear his new wife is almost ten years older than she told him she is?”

Grey gasps, rearing back. He’s wearing his glasses tonight, and the frames tilt with the movement. “How long do you think it will be before he figures it out?”

“Probably when he gets that bill from her plastic surgeon.”

“Emilyis a vet tech at Fontana Ridge Animal Hospital.”

Grey waves a finger in Finley’s direction, a grin lighting up his face. “Ah, I do know Emily.” He turns the smile on me. “Great girl.”

“See? I can’t go out with her,” I tell Finley and Mom.

“If you couldn’t go out with anyone Grey has dated, you wouldn’t be able to find a woman in the entire county,” Finley retorts.

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