by Toni Aleo
“December 26th. I’ll leave here Christmas afternoon.”
“We haven’t gotten an invite,” Mom says in a very snooty way. “Tell him no shepherd’s pie for him.”
“Okay, Shepherd’s Pie Nazi,” I tease as I take out my phone. I send a quick text to Ryan, and thankfully, he answers back.
Ryan: Asshole, I sent it to your house with yours ’cause I didn’t have your parents’ address.
Shit. He did.
“Okay, that’s my fault,” I say, looking up at my parents. “The invite is in my mail basket. I forgot he sent yours to my house.”
“Oh, he is forgiven. Tell him I’ll bring the shepherd’s pie.”
I laugh as I tuck my phone into my pocket. “He’ll appreciate that.”
“It’s sure to be a lovely wedding. In December? Maybe it’ll snow!” Mom gushes, clapping her hands, which scares Sadie and she takes off out of the room.
Dad snorts. “In Tennessee? Please. It’ll either snow and the whole state will shut down, or it’ll lightly dust and, again, the state will shut down. Or it’ll be sixty degrees.”
Laughter fills the kitchen. I lean back, propping my chair on its back legs. We lived in Tennessee from the moment I was adopted. I still remember the day they came and got me from Georgia. I was a mess, my clothes were ripped, and I’m pretty sure I smelled. I was terrified to let anyone touch me, but my mom stood there, tears in her eyes and her arms wide. I went right to her. The picture from that moment hangs in the family room. In it, Dad is standing beside her, crying as they both enveloped me in a hug.
“Chandler, stop please,” Mom scolds, kicking me in the shin.
I drop my chair and rub my leg. “Great, now I can’t play.”
She smacks me again, and I laugh as I lean my elbows on the table. She eyes me. “So, will you have a date for the wedding?”
Amelia. I wish. “Eh, I might go stag.”
“You haven’t been with anyone since the ex,” Dad says.
“You don’t know that,” I say with a wink, and he laughs.
Mom gags. “Not what I wanted to know,” she says dryly. “But you haven’t dated.”
“Don’t have time.” I shrug as I lay my head on the table, looking up at them. “Guess who lives here?”
Why did I say that?
“Who?”
“Ryan’s sister.”
She coos, and I really don’t know why I set myself up for that. “Amelia.”
“The fact that you know her name is concerning.”
She raises an eyebrow at me, but before she can say anything, Dad chimes in, “You talked about her for a month straight, and then you were bummed when she chose her ex-boyfriend, even though you never made a move. Wasn’t he scared of Ryan or something?” he asks my mom.
“Terrified, which makes him a good friend, but he ruined his chances at love. If only he’d married her instead of the ex.”
They both look dreamily at the ceiling, and I roll my eyes. “You guys are ridiculous.”
“Again, only stating the truth. So, you ask her out yet?” Mom asks, and again, I don’t know what to do with these two.
“Yes, but she turned me down.” What is wrong with me? I could have lied.
Mom makes a face. “Why? You’re adorable, minus that thing on your face.”
I give her a dry look. “My beard?”
“It’s awful.”
“Eh, I think it makes him like a man and not a child.”
“Wow. Thanks, Dad.” I sit up and look out the window. “I think she went through a bad divorce—”
“With the ex from college?”
“Yeah.”
“Told you. Should have picked you and married you,” Mom says matter-of-factly, and Dad nods.
“Yup, what Mom said.”
I blink. “But I think she’s hung up on that.”
“That’s too bad. Have you brought her flowers?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m taking it slow.”
Like molasses, apparently.
“Well, that’s boring. You should go declare your love for her,” Dad teases, and I scoff.
“I’m not in love.”
“Yet,” Mom sings, and Dad nods.
“Okay, so I’m going.”
“To Amelia’s?” Mom asks as I push in my chair.
“No, I haven’t seen her in a couple days. I think she’s busy or something,” I say, and then I whistle for Sadie. She comes running with one of her toys in her mouth. “Leave that here.”
Sadie drops it, and I swear she’s cursing me. I put her leash on as my dad says, “So, go see her.”
“For what?”
“To check in on her.”
“Yeah, that’s a great excuse.”
I look back at my parents, and then I roll my eyes. “I’ll see you two later.”
As I head out, I wonder if I should go over and check on her. Would it be weird? Sadie’s head hangs out the window as I drive. When I turn onto our road, I find myself creeping along, looking for Amelia’s house. When I reach her cottage, I can see the lights are on, and there are two cars in the driveway. She has company. I shouldn’t stop.
I stop.
I get out of the car and look at Sadie. “You stay.”
She whines, but she’s fine. The air conditioner is on, and PopRocks is playing. It’s her favorite station. My heart is pounding as I head up the walkway to Amelia’s stoop. What if she has a guy over? I should leave. I shouldn’t knock, yet I head right for the door. I have to know. Maybe I am wasting my time, like Nico says.
I step up onto the first step and then knock on the door before stepping back down. When the door opens, it’s not Amelia. It’s Mrs. Justice.
“Chandler!” she exclaims before coming out the door and wrapping me up in a big hug. “How are you, honey?”
I hug her tightly before she pulls away. “I’m great. How are you?”
“So wonderful,” she says with a smile, and I can tell she is. She looks way better than she did last time I saw her. Happier, like she found the missing piece she so desperately needed to become whole again. I never suspected it could be Amelia. Their family is solid. But then, even the families that look perfect on the outside can have cracks. “What brings you by?”
The door opens wider, stealing my attention, and there she is. Amelia is wearing a pair of jean shorts and a crop top, and her hair is falling like a curtain over her shoulder. She isn’t wearing makeup, but her face shines. Or maybe it’s her eyes. Man, she’s beautiful.
I clear my throat and smile. “I, um, uh… I came to check on Amelia. I hadn’t seen her at the coffee shop, and I was worried.”
A small smile pulls at Amelia’s lips as Mrs. Justice gushes, “Well, that’s so sweet. I’ve stolen all her time! But please, we’re about to eat. Would you like to join us?”
Uh, fuck yeah. Whoa, slow your roll. Don’t sound too eager. “I have my dog,” I say, hooking my thumb back at Sadie. She barks to confirm her presence.
Amelia laughs. “She can come too.”
“Oh well, then yeah, I’d love to have dinner with you guys. Are you sure I’m not imposing?”
“Not at all. We’d love the company. I’m sure Amelia is sick of me by now.”
Amelia nods. “I am. Come on, Chandler. Mom made lasagna.”
Our eyes lock, and a slow smile moves across my lips. “Well, if you insist.”
She rolls her eyes as she turns and heads inside. As I watch her, I can’t help but think my parents are always right.
How annoying.
Chapter Eight
Amelia
Mom has been here for four days, and it’s everything I’ve been missing. After we got off the phone, she arrived within three hours. When she stepped off the plane, I lost it. I wrapped my arms around my mom and cried. It seemed like we stood there for hours, but it was really only a few minutes. She whispered in my ear that she loved me, and I swear it’s like we’ve been talking every day for the last four yea
rs. We may fight, and we may disagree on a lot of things, but at the end of the day, she’s my mom, and I was stupid to think she had abandoned me. She would never do that. Just like my dad would never abandon her. Or Ryan and me. Not by choice, at least.
Stupid cancer.
Mom’s voice fills the living room as I try to assemble another place setting for Chandler. I can’t believe he’s here. If I were honest, I would admit I’ve missed seeing him these past few days. I thought maybe I should have texted him and told him I wouldn’t be at the coffee shop, but then I thought, why would he care? Apparently, he had, and that shouldn’t leave me breathless, but it does. When Sadie comes barreling into the kitchen, almost knocking the empty wineglass out of my hand, I giggle.
“Hello, Sadie girl, how are you?”
She gives me a happy bark, and I grin. I set the glass down, grabbing a hunk of garlic bread before feeding it to her.
“Always feeding my dog.”
Sadie takes off like a bat out of hell. “Wow. Way to hang me out to dry,” I scold her, but she doesn’t care. She has a piece of bread. I look up guiltily, my eyes wide as I hold back my grin. “She asked for it?”
He doesn’t look mad or even annoyed. He just looks gorgeous. His Under Armour tee is tight over his shoulders and chest, but it flows seamlessly down his torso. His athletic shorts hang low on his hips, and I’m drooling at the little piece of skin that’s showing since he’s folded his arms across that thick chest of his. His hair is wild, like he’s been running his fingers through it over and over again. I wonder what that would feel like. Drew never liked for me to touch his hair, mostly because he loaded it up with gel. Chandler doesn’t do that, though; his hair looks natural and free. He still hasn’t shaved. That usually isn’t my jam. Drew was always so clean-shaven and neat. His hair was never out of place, but Chandler looks as if he has just rolled out of bed. And I like it. A lot.
Va-va-voom.
I clear my throat, tearing my gaze from his alluring topaz eyes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. She loves you.”
The way he says loves is downright sinful. To be on the receiving end of that word could destroy a woman. A good woman. One who would love him just as much as he loved them. I inhale deeply. “Would you like some wine?”
“Yes, please.”
“I have red and white.”
“Red.”
His voice is so deep, so sexy, and I honestly don’t remember it being that rich in school. It had to be, though; he was well past puberty when I was crushing on him. He just seems different, more manly, now.
I try to ignore his overwhelming presence as I get out another wineglass for him.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Nope, I’m pretty much done. You can grab your plate, though,” I say, nodding toward his yellow plate that already has silverware and a napkin on top of it.
He picks it up. “It’s great to see your mom here.”
I glance up at him for only a moment before I start pouring the second glass. A smile pulls at my lips as I nod. “Yeah, you were right. I needed to speak to her, clear the air. It’s been great.”
“That’s awesome. I’m really happy for you.”
Neither of us says anything else as I finish pouring the second glass. When I start the third, I ask, “What have you been up to the last couple days?”
“Well, I didn’t get my dose of beautiful girl, which really put a damper on my days,” he says softly…and is he closer? I glance up at him as my skin breaks out in gooseflesh.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it sucked, but—”
“Amelia, you’re pouring wine all over the counter!”
At my mom’s voice, I feel wine splash up my legs, and I quickly stop. “Shit!”
I place the bottle down, and before I realize it, Chandler has a towel and is wiping the wine off my legs. “Oh, I can do that.”
He looks up at me, his eyes dark and mesmerizing. A slow, dangerous grin moves onto his lips as he shrugs. “It’s no problem at all.” His touch is like fire. Absolutely risky fire. I take in a sharp breath as he looks away, and I can tell he’s grinning. He wipes up the floor as I do the counter, and when he stands, I give him a thankful smile.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
He throws the towel into the sink and grabs his place setting. “Would you like me to take those to the table?”
“Please, thanks.”
“Anytime,” he says once more, and the look he gives me is way more suggestive than it needs to be. Or maybe I just think it is. Crap. When he walks away, I look up to see my mom watching me. Her brow is arched, and a wide smile is on her face.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing,” she sings as she walks toward the table. “Chandler, I’ve been following the IceCats. You’re kicking some major butt.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Justice. That means a lot.”
I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath and trying to clear my head. I am in no position to even think about trying to get something started with Chandler. I just got on good terms with my family, something I needed to do. Now I have to work on me. A guy would complicate that, especially someone like Chandler. I need to remember that. As I grab my glass, I take a long sip of it before filling it back up. I look out into the dining room, and all I see is Chandler’s wide shoulders. He’s so big, it looks as if he doesn’t fit in my chair. I want to touch him—so damn bad. But that wouldn’t be smart. I take another gulp of my wine and then empty the bottle into my glass before heading into the dining room. I sit beside my mom and across from Chandler as she serves dinner. Chandler’s eyes move along my face; I think they pause at my lips, but maybe I’m delusional.
You look really pretty tonight, he mouths, and my heart stops dead in my chest.
“Do you like it here?” My mom’s question pulls his gaze from mine.
Thankfully.
“I do, actually. It’s real nice. I like the weather.”
“I bet,” she says before taking a sip of her wine. “How are your parents?”
“They’re great. They moved here too. You knew that?”
“I did and I didn’t. They didn’t sell their house back home, did they?”
“No, they have it for when we visit.” He takes a huge bite, basically half the piece of garlic bread, swallowing before he says, “They live on the north side of town.”
Mom smiles. “That’s funny. They’re gonna follow you everywhere, huh?”
Chandler nods, not the least bit embarrassed. “I think it’s more me than them. When I first moved here, I didn’t know how to function as an adult, so my mom had to come teach me, and then they stayed. Plus, being the only child, she wants to be here and wherever I go. They own properties everywhere, so we always have a home. It’s nice.”
“Oh, I’m not teasing. That’s wonderful. I hope to have both my kids near me sooner rather than later.”
I don’t have to look up to know everyone is staring at me.
“Must be nice having Ryan and Sofia at home.”
“It is, but Ryan is gone all the time with the Assassins, and Amelia is here. So all I have in town is my niece and nephews—oh, and Sofia.”
I don’t know if she meant it as a dig, but I took it as one. I know she wants me to come home, but I feel good here. I don’t want to mess that up.
“You’re coming to the wedding, right?”
“Have to. I’m the best man.”
“Oh, I knew that!” she laughs, shaking her head. “Ryan told me he called you when we learned Amelia was here.”
I glance up, and Chandler looks a bit guilty. “Yeah, it’s actually funny. He called right after I saw her for the second time.”
I meet his gaze, my eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”
He shrugs, looking down at his plate. “He asked if you were okay, and I said I thought you were. Then he asked me to keep an eye on you.”
I perk my brow. Before I can ask
what else was said, Mom says, “You know, Ryan told me the other day you were adopted. I never knew that.”
I didn’t know that.
Chandler nods proudly. “Yeah, they adopted me when I was four.”
“Wow, I never would have suspected that. I always thought you looked like your dad.”
They share a laugh. “Everyone says that. My mom even teased that maybe he’d knocked up my birth mom.”
Mom laughs softly. “I love your parents. Such great people.”
“They are,” he agrees, and I can’t fight my smile anymore. I’ve never met his parents, but given how fondly he and my mom speak of them, I kind of wish I had. A comfortable silence falls over us as we begin to eat. “This is wonderful. Thanks for having me. I was gonna eat cereal.”
I laugh. “You don’t cook?”
“Nope, I suck at it.”
“Amelia is a wonderful cook,” Mom says, and I shoot her a look.
“I’m all right.”
“Better than me, I’m sure. I could burn water,” Chandler admits.
I giggle as I shake my head. “Whatever. I bet you’re better than you think.”
We share a look, and I swear the room is on fire. “I promise you, I suck.”
“So, Chandler,” Mom says, and he shifts his gaze to hers. “I have a question.”
He smiles. “Shoot.”
“I’ve always wanted to know if you’re named after Chandler Bing from Friends.”
Booming laughter fills the room, and I can’t help but join in. I’ve always wondered that but never asked. I was always too busy trying to get him to kiss me back in college. Man, I wonder how he kisses now.
“Yeah, Chandler wasn’t my name when my parents adopted me. I don’t even remember my birth name. My dad said he wanted me to have a new start, so they changed my name. My mom always wanted to name her son that, and my dad went with it.”
“That’s so sweet,” I say, and Chandler sends me a hot grin.
Before he can respond to me, though, my mom says, “I have another question.”
“Jeez, Mom,” I tease, and she laughs.
“What? I haven’t seen him in months!”
“It’s fine,” Chandler says with a sweet grin for my mom.