Page 25 of Cabin Mate

Mom narrows her eyes at me. “I thought your work was top secret?”

I grimace and shoot my dad a perturbed look. He mouths the word sorry.

“Sorry, Mom. Dad has some good insight for my work sometimes since he’s an orthopedic surgeon and all.”

She nods, looking appeased for now.

“It’s going okay, I just want to make sure it feels like a real knee and not just another knee replacement implant. Vanderwin is still such a new company and we need to stay ahead of the curve.”

“True. Well, the Vanderwin breast and glute implants have had great success so far. I’m sure you’ll create a ground-breaking design for this, too.” He smiles encouragingly.

My mother’s phone starts to ring loudly. “Oh! It’s David and Isabella FaceTiming. Let me grab the iPad so we can see them better.” She jumps up from her seat and dashes into the next room before coming back five seconds later and answering the FaceTime call on the device.

David’s surly face comes into view along with Isa’s charming smile. Mom is so delighted to see them, her voice is an octave higher than normal. “It’s so wonderful to see your faces! We sure wish you were here. The table seems so empty.”

“What are we, Mom? Chopped liver?” I ask sarcastically.

I can see David smirking on the screen.

“Yeah, what the hell? At least we gave you grandchildren!” Sophie says to Mom before laughing.

“Language, young lady.” Mom shoots her a stern look before smiling back at the iPad screen.

David hums, making a show of narrowing his eyes and looking in the direction of me and Molly. “Umm, Brooks … that isn’t a date, is it?”

Molly laughs. “Nope! It’s just me!”

My face falls for a moment before I right myself and force out a laugh. “Ha. Yep, just my good pal, Molly.”

She bumps her fist on my shoulder playfully, showing David that we’re just buddies … totally platonic … never picturing each other naked.

At least … one of us isn’t.

“Oh, Molly. Good to see you. Glad you can help fill the table up,” David says in his dry, monotone voice.

Molly just laughs again.

“So where are you two now?” Drew asks David and Isa.

Isa grins. “We’re in Barcelona! It’s so gorgeous.”

“Oooh, how romantic!” Sophie says with hearts in her eyes … not literally, of course. She looks at Drew. “We should go to Barcelona.”

He leans in and rubs his nose against hers. “Let’s do it.”

I make a gagging noise and they glare at me. “We don’t want to hear about your newlywedding.”

“Our what?” Sophie asks, looking confused.

Drew continues glaring at me. “Nothing, sweetie.”

I grin back at him before looking over at Molly. She whispers, “What’s newlywedding?”

Leaning in to whisper in her ear, I respond, “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

She giggles and shoves me playfully. I don’t move right away, loving the rush of being so close to her that my mouth is nearly brushing her earlobe. I can smell her shampoo and her Chanel No. 5 and have to stop myself from sniffing her and nuzzling her neck.

This is the most I’ve ever enjoyed a family dinner.