The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(60)

“I’m fine.”

“No hard hits out there?”

“Nope, not one. I did drop a pass though.”

“Why? What happened? Is something wrong with your hands?” His voice was part worried, part hopeful.

“I had a lot on my mind and my head wasn’t in the game. It’s nothing.”

“It’s quiet for a team Thanksgiving dinner.”

“I’m not with the team. I’m at Seph’s house.” Staring out the window, I watched more flurries float down, a barely there layer coating the ground.

He made a knowing and pleased humming sound. “Pretty serious.”

“She invited me and since I was in town anyway, it would have been rude to turn her down.” A few people walked down the street and knocked on the door of the house opposite Seph’s. Someone threw the door open and tugged the other person into their arms, their laughter filling the air. I wanted to hold my hands up to the warmth of their embrace. A little different from what I’d been greeted with at the Alexander house.

The call was quiet, the background noise of Mom and Ethan arguing over the next movie and the sound of the TV filtering through the speaker. “I’m glad you’re safe. We’ll miss you today.”

“I miss you guys too.”

He cleared his throat. “Your mom wants to talk to you.”

“Save me a piece of fudge pie,” I called out, trying to catch him before he handed over the phone. There was no way Mom, Ethan, or Becca would save me a piece if I left it up to them.

Their muffled voices and a scratching sound filled my ear, like he had the phone pressed against his chest.

“You’re with Seph at her parents’ house!” My mom’s squeal nearly blew out my eardrums.

“Jesus, Mom. I don’t think they heard you across the entire tri-state area.”

“Here I was worried you’d be missing us for Thanksgiving, but you’re with Seph. I’m sure we’re the last thing on your mind.”

“Of course I miss you guys.”

“Aww, we miss you too, but that’s not enough to butter me up to save you a piece of fudge pie—although I will set one aside for Seph.”

“That’s mean.” I laughed and turned, my muscles tensing at the figure in the doorway.

“Now you’ve got an incentive to bring her by again. Maybe she’ll share her piece with you.”

Seph’s dad gave me a disapproving look. I swore it was the only expression he had. “The next course will be ready shortly.”

“I’ll be right there, just wishing my family a happy Thanksgiving.”

He gave a curt nod and disappeared from the room. Mr. Sunshine and Happiness over there. It was a wonder Seph could speak to anyone at all. If her mom hadn’t been around, Seph would have been like those lab monkeys raised without human affection or comfort.

“We’re eating soon, Mom. I’ve got to go.”

“Love you, sweetie. Great game.” At least Mom checked the scores, although they didn’t watch the games. “We’ll see you soon.” Her voice pitched up at the end.

“Yes, I’ll stop by soon. Love you.”

Ending the call, I walked back into the dining room. Seph sat with her back so straight and pressed flush against the chair. She looked a lot like she had the first time I’d seen her, not a hair out of place.

I dropped my hand onto her shoulder. She jumped and her head snapped up, eyes softening when she saw me. I ran my thumb over her wool sweater.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Of course. My dad was checking in on me like always, and they wanted to tease me about eating all the fudge pie.”

“It was so good.” She got the dreamy look in her eye that everyone got when remembering the dark, rich flavor.

“She said she’d save you a piece for the next time you came by.”

Seph’s head jerked back a little. “Am I going by again?”

“We’re not leaving a piece of pie unclaimed. Yeah, we’ll go.” I bumped my shoulder against hers and she smiled at me. Lifting her hand, I threaded my fingers through hers. Her pulse jumped wildly under my touch.

The door from the kitchen pushed open and her mom stepped through with two dishes in her oven mitt-covered hands.

Seph released my hand and scooted her chair back. “Mom, you were supposed to let me help you.” She jumped up and grabbed one of the dishes from her mom’s hand, slipping the mitt onto hers.

I stood and moved the wine glasses to give her a landing pad for the piping hot dishes.

“There are plenty of other dishes to bring out.”

“How can I help?”

Her mom smiled at me and the corners of her eyes crinkled. She looked so much like Seph. Other than the small streaks of gray in her hair, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine her as Seph’s older sister.

“Can you open the bottles of wine on the table? There’s a corkscrew on the bar cart in the corner.”

“On it.”

The two of them disappeared into the kitchen and I grabbed the corkscrew. Twisting it down into the cork, I popped open the bottle of white wine. It was one I’d seen in Nix’s parents’ wine cellar, which meant it couldn’t have been cheap. I opened the other bottle and set them both on the table.