Possessive Best Friend

“Hello, this is Dean Ashman,” I say. “Here for the gathering.”

“Ah, yes. We were expecting you. Come on in, Mr. Ashman.”

The gate slides open and I drive on up with a smile on my face. I park the truck among a bunch of other cars, mostly high-end luxury models, although there are a few classics scattered in the bunch. Staff is all over the place and wearing their best clothes, and as I climb out, I realize that I don’t know a damn thing about Lora’s family.

I spot her up near the front door. She’s standing there, glaring at me, hands on her hips. I smile widely as I approach her. “There you are,” I say. “I was worried I’d have to go looking.”

“Dean—”

I stop in front of her and cock my head. “Yes, darling?”

She glares at me for a long second then sighs. “Come on. Might as well introduce you to everyone.”

I laugh as she leads me into the manor.

Turns out, her extended family is huge. Most of them are related through her mom’s side, though some of the family is related through Uncle Ron’s wife, Louise. I spot her wearing an absurd Gucci pant suit, gesturing with a drink in her hand, and laughing louder than anyone should at something that’s probably not very funny.

“Okay, so,” Lora says as we walk through the group of people. “Those are the Cardiffs, they’re related through Louise, Ron’s wife. They’re a little… loud.” She makes a face and shrugs. “Mostly everyone else is related to my mom. She’s one of eight kids, so her extended family is huge. We don’t see them much, though.”

We go through a barrage of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Despite just having told me that she barely knows them and doesn’t see them much, she knows every name, every detail, and seems perfectly at ease. I wonder for a second if she really is closer than she realizes with these people, but I understand that it’s just her personality.

I’ve seen it time and time again. She has this way about her. She makes people feel comfortable, even when she barely knows them. It’s in her smile, the way she leans in to listen, the way she puts a hand on an arm. People are drawn to her, always have been. Hell, I’m drawn to her, and can’t help myself. Now that she’s grown up, it’s like her magnetism’s been turned up to eleven.

“Okay, and I’ve saved the best for last,” she says as we walk over to a little bench under some shade trees. A guy about my age is sitting there, tall and broad, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. Next to him sits a younger girl, though she has a generally similar look to him, just smaller and pretty. “This is David and this is Maggie. They’re my mom’s brother’s kids.”

“Nice to meet you guys,” I say, shaking hands.

“Man, good to see someone we’re not related to,” David says with a laugh.

“Seriously. I always forget how many there are.” Maggie frowns and looks around. “I mean, where’d they all come from?”

“I have no clue,” Lora admits. “I feel like I barely get to see you guys, though. What have you been up to?”

“Not much,” David says. “Just hanging around. You know me.”

Maggie rolls her eyes. “He’s being modest,” she says. “He just got the assistant coach job at USC.”

“Football?” I ask.

He nods. “Yep. I’m a sports nerd.”

I laugh. “That’s amazing. Congrats.”

“Ah, thanks. It’s no big deal.”

“You’re young to be an assistant coach at a program like that.”

“Youngest ever.” He grins and shrugs. “What can I say, I’ve been lucky.”

“What about you, Maggie?” Lora asks.

“Unfortunately,” she says, “I’m not as impressive as my older brother here.”

“Don’t listen to her. She just graduated from Harvard.”

“Damn. You two are way cooler than I am,” Lora says with a laugh.

“That’s not true,” I say. “You just bought a warehouse.”

David grinds. “A warehouse?”

“Sounds weird, I know,” Lora says. “But it’s this empty warehouse I plan on turning into an indoor fun park. This town is sort of… well, boring. I want to give young people something to do that isn’t meth.”

Both cousins laugh. “Well, if you need help, ask me,” Maggie says. “I’ve got nothing else going on.”

“We might take you up on that,” I say. “I got roped into this project.”

“Please,” Lora says, grinning. “He quit his job and dove in head first.”

Maggie raises an eyebrow. “Really? That’s bold.”

“I believe in her,” I say.

“Oh, sappy.” David laughs.

“It’s not like that,” Lora says, blushing. “We’re business partners.”

“Oh, right, sure.” Maggie grins and gives her brother a look. “Just business.”

I laugh but don’t try to correct them as Lora blushes a deep, dark crimson. I want to make a joke, but I spot someone walking over toward us. I turn and freeze as Sylvia Lofthouse breezes over.