Page 128 of Good For Me

“You guys know each other?” I ask.

“Sure,” Ruby says. “We’ve both been running bars in this town for decades. Our paths have crossed more than a few times.”

River leans into me. “Fate, Jas. It’s all around us.”

“Coincidences, River,” I mutter back, but even I have to admit I’m caught off guard by the idea our families already have this connection.

Once Dave and Ruby are happily chatting, I search out my cousin. It’s not hard to find him—Paige has one hand clinging to Chris’s forearm while she carts him around the room, making introductions. He’s got his polite smile on—the same one he wears when he’s trying to keep his cool and remain professional when idiot customers at the body shop are driving him crazy.

“I’m on it,” River says. He waves toward Bodhi who stops mid-conversation when he catches sight of River’s signal. He nods once then promptly walks away from Everly and Fox and goes over to introduce himself to Chris.

“This will be perfect,” River tells me. “Bodhi can talk about sports and camping and all the dude bro stuff your cousin is into.”

“Bodhi is into sports?” I ask. In the weeks I’ve been living at their house, I’ve found Bodhi much more likely to be chilling in front of shitty reality TV shows with Everly.

“Bodhi is into everything,” River assures me. “Seriously, he’ll get Chris comfortable.”

A moment later, Chris tilts his head back to laugh at something Bodhi says and River turns his triumphant gaze on me. “See? Everyone is chill. Nothing to worry about.”

I release a breath, allowing myself to lean into him. River’s arm immediately comes around me, his lips pressing against the top of my head. “You okay?”

“I am,” I say, realizing I mean it. For all the stress I’ve been feeling about today, it’s hard to worry too much right now, with River’s arm around me, his people surrounding us, going out of their way to make my family comfortable, the smell of yummy food permeating the air.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Jas,” River says, kissing my head again.

* * *

Paige and Reedwent all out on the food. They had the meal catered, but it was a heat and serve kind of situation. Apparently, the caterer dropped everything off last night and all the Ransomes had to do was heat it up, meaning there’s no catering staff hovering around while we eat. I’m glad—I don’t think my uncle would have been too happy about being served. This feels more like a normal Thanksgiving dinner, except for the mansion and the masses of people. And the gourmet food. Reheated or not, it sure as hell beats the dried out green bean casserole I’m used to.

I meet River’s other set of grandparents, a soft-spoken couple from Ohio who try to get out to the West Coast to see the family as much as possible. Brie nearly chokes on her dinner roll when Haylee Hunt—Lennon’s wife—takes the seat across from her at the massive dining table. Brie generally has more varied taste in music than I do, and Haylee’s band, Intrigue, has always been at the top of her list. I watch her sneaking peeks at the singer and look forward to giving her shit about going star struck later.

There’s a lot of arguing about music— “they do this at every family gathering,” Rose tells me, rolling her eyes—and trash talk about who’s better at guitar, or whatever. Halfway through dinner, Violet realizes she forgot to give me the gift for the baby and runs off, ignoring the calls of her father to stay at the table until the meal is over. She comes back with something yellow and green and…blobby. It’s made out of yarn, but that’s about all I can say for sure. The thing is shapeless and uneven and I have zero clue what I’m supposed to do with it.

“Isn’t that a sweet little hat?” Daisy asks, and I look up to see her winking at me. I could kiss her for the hint because seriously, this thing looks nothing like a hat and there’s no way in hell I would have guessed that.

“It’s adorable, Violet,” I tell her, and my heart clenches when she beams down at me with pride.

“It took mehoursto get the stitching right.”

Something hot and solid lodges itself right in my throat at the idea of this kid laboring over a gift for so long. A gift for her little niece or nephew. Without even thinking twice, I reach out and grab her for a hug.

“Thank you,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “This is the very first present the baby has ever gotten.”

She pulls back, expression equally surprised and pleased. “Really?”

I nod, eyes stinging. God, I really hope I don’t cry over the awful hat in front of River’s whole family. “It is. Guess you’ll be the favorite aunt.”

Her grin takes up her whole face and when she goes back to her seat, she’s already talking about the socks she’s going to attempt next.

“You put it on a little thick,” Daisy mutters to me. “You realize she’s going to make you a dozen of those now, right?”

“I don’t care,” I tell her seriously, looking down at the soft misshapen hat. “I love this.”

River’s hand covers mine on the yarn and I look up to meet his eyes. He searches my face for a moment before smiling softly, and I think he knows exactly how I’m feeling right now.

All in all, it’s a pretty comfortable meal. I shouldn’t have worried. The Ransomes have always welcomed me, of course they would do the same for my family.

It’s not until later, once my uncle, Chris, and Brie have left to go have pie with Brie’s family, that things take a turn. I’m on my way back to the party after seeing them out when I get lost. I actually get lost in Reed Ransome’s house, that’s how big the damn thing is. I turn left off the front hall into the living room, thinking that’s the way to the backyard, and the patio where the party has now moved to. But there’s no set of French doors leading outside. I go back to the hall and try another room, which also looks like a living room, but smaller. How many seating areas does one family need? Frustrated now, I decide to go back to the front entryway and start over. The first room I come to has a partially closed heavy wood door. I’m pretty sure it’s Reed’s office so I’m passing by without looking inside when I hear my name.