“They wanted to know what everyone’s plans were for Thanksgiving. Macie is going to your parents’ place instead of her usual vacationing in some exotic location.” I fanned myself dramatically.
He smirked at me. “And what are our plans?”
“I figured I’d go to my mom’s and cook dinner, that way it keeps things semi-normal for Sarah, and you would spend time with your family.”
He set his cups down and turned toward me. “You don’t want to spend the holiday together?”
“Of course I’d love to, but I just assumed that you wanted to be with your family, and I can’t be away from my sister right now. My mom’s been in and out so much lately that I can’t trust that she won’t leave her alone to fend for herself.”
“Would she really do that?”
I tilted my head to the side and gave him an ‘are you kidding me’ look. “My mom has shown me time and time again that her social life is more important than spending it with her kids.”
“Okay, then why don’t you two come to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving? They’d love to meet you, and my mom always makes more than enough food.”
I giggled. “I’m sure she does. There are four of you boys aren’t there?”
“Including my dad, there’s five.”
I shook my head. “Your mom’s gotta be a saint.”
He gave a heartfelt smile. “She’s amazing. You’ll love her.”
Sighing I said, “Camden I can’t leave my mom alone. She’s already dealing with me moving out, and with all of these changes, I think our relationship is really feeling the strain.”
My little sister came bounding into the kitchen, and she hugged Camden’s hip.
“Hey kid, what’s shakin’?”
“Stupid homework…stupid boys,” she said nonchalantly as she reached for a cookie on the counter.
“Boys are stupid,” he said, teasing one of her curls.
“Dodger’s not stupid though.” There was a pink tinge to her cheeks, and she looked down at her feet.
My eyes shot up to Camden’s and his shoulders were shaking from trying to contain his laughter. How did I miss that my sister had a crush on Dodger? Well, couldn’t say I didn’t blame her, he was pretty cute. “No Dodger’s not stupid.”
“Psh….”
“Camden!” I stomped my foot at him and shook my head. Let’s not burst her bubble. He winked at me.
“Alright back to what we were talking about. I think you and Sarah should just plan on coming to the house. We eat around noon, and you don’t have to make anything. After we eat and play ball I can drop you both off at your mom’s, and you can bring her food from my house.”
“Play ball?”
“Yeah, we sort of have a tradition that after every family dinner we go out to the field and play baseball. Since you two and Macie will be there, we’ll have a good little team going,” Camden answered simply.
Sarah beamed at him, “That sounds like fun. Can we go Keegan?”
“There’s no way my mom will be okay with me taking Sarah for the holiday,” I said.
“Yeah she would,” Sarah’s little voice chimed in.
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Because.” She shrugged. “Mom was talking to someone on the phone yesterday, and I heard her say that she was going to her boyfriend’s house, but that she was trying to think of what to do with me. I think she was going to ask you if I could come over.”
I gaped at her. “Mom said she was going to her boyfriend’s house for Thanksgiving?”
“Yep!”
This couldn’t be put off any longer. I’d talk to her when I dropped Sarah off. I was so fed up with her blowing us off. And during the holidays? It was not okay. I looked up at Camden, and he bent down to whisper something in her ear. She nodded her head and went back into the living room to watch TV. Coming over to me, he pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head.
“My house?” he asked.
I took a deep breath, feeling more upset than I should be. I’ve always known how my mom was. Age normally matured people, but in her case, she seemed to be digressing. I wanted to shake her by her shoulders and say, “Wake up Mom, you’re a grown woman. You got dealt a shitty hand in life but that doesn’t make Sarah and me objects who got in your way of living a good life.” I loved her. I loved her unconditionally, but sometimes I really didn’t like the choices that she made.
Tipping my head back I looked up at his soft brown eyes. They were full of understanding, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Okay, your house. But I plan on contributing in some way. I can’t show up empty-handed. So could you call your mom and ask her what I could bring?”
He kissed the tip of my nose. It was quickly becoming one of my favorite things that he did. “Yeah I’ll go call her right now and give her a heads-up that we have two more coming.” He swatted me on the butt and grabbed his phone before he walked over to the dining room.
Oh boy, now was not the time to panic about meeting Camden’s family for the first time. I was sure that his parents were lovely. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that they had raised two great boys. The other two had to be just as wonderful. Holy crap two more Brooks brothers. I didn’t know if I was in for a treat, or if I should be worried. Camden and Dodger couldn’t be any more different from one another. One brother was serious and a hard ass, but with a sweet side he didn’t show often. The other was charismatic, funny, and easygoing. Both were drop-dead gorgeous. I was curious what their parents looked like. It had to have come from somewhere. Sighing, I went back to washing the dishes and tried to decide what I was going to say to my mom later this evening.
“Blue, you got the pies?” Camden called from upstairs. I was loading the desserts I’d made the night before into the car.
“Yeah, come on!” I shouted up to him. He was leaning over the railing and looking as delicious as ever. Who needed dessert when I had him?
Locking up he came downstairs and we all got in the car. Sarah stayed the night last night since we were leaving kind of early. Turns out she was right about my mom wanting to duck out of the holiday festivities. We got into a pretty monumental fight over her leaving my sister at home by herself. She started crying and telling me that I was accusing her of being a bad parent. Maybe I was. But I hadn’t had the first clue how I could make her wake up and see just how destructive she was being.
On the drive to his parents’ house, my nerves began to kick in. The only comfort I had going in to this was that Macie was going to be there too. Camden knew I was getting antsy because every few minutes he’d give my hand a squeeze. Looking over at him, he was ridiculously handsome. He was wearing dark jeans and a black thermal henley that molded to every curvature of his arms and chest. He styled his hair in a spiky mess, and he had on a cologne that was a deep woodsy scent. Between how he looked and smelled, he was a lethal combination. I wanted him. I felt like I wasn’t up to par with him, and I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. I had on a pair of white skinny jeans, tan flats, and a loose fitted peach chevron design top. I’d put something in my hair that helped make the waves stand out more than normal and it hung down my back. Camden’s face when he saw me this morning was all the approval that I needed. I just hoped I wasn’t underdressed for his family.
We’d been on the road for almost thirty minutes when we turned off into a nice subdivision on the other side of Athens. The homes weren’t necessarily brand new, but it was the type of neighborhood that had beautiful large trees, and well-manicured lawns. The further we drove, the bigger the houses got. My palms were sweating, but Camden never said anything about it. When he pulled into the driveway of a stately looking home, I looked up. It was a two-story colonial that could have been plucked right out of a Southern Living magazine. White columns adorned the front and the green shutters made the anterior of the home pop. Poppies, daffodils, lilies, and hedges were laid out around the front of the house and around a tree in the middle of the yard. This was certainly not what I imagined when I pictured Camden’s childhood home. Parking the car, he got out and came around to open my door. I saw Macie’s vehicle, along with a few others, and I felt a little relieved that she was already here.