I pulled away and straightened my clothes out just as Mom asked, “Do you have siblings, Will?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am. Three brothers. They’re all older than me.”
“Are you close? These two might not talk every day, but they love each other more than they’ll ever admit.”
Will paused for a moment, and my heart went out to him. I knew how tricky his family relationships were. Why did family have to be so damn complicated?
“Mom, that’s kinda personal.”
“No, it’s okay,” Will replied. “We’re not, no. I’ve always felt like an outsider with them, but that’s okay. I have found family, who are pretty incredible.” His gaze flicked toward me, then quickly snapped the other direction again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Jameson is right. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, no. It really is okay,” Will cut Mom off. “I know there are people who care about me.”
“It’s their loss, not yours,” I added. Maybe I shouldn’t have. I wasn’t supposed to know Will, but I wasn’t keeping quiet right then either.
“Thanks,” he replied, just before Dad’s hand squeezed his shoulder.
“You have family here, son,” Dad told him. My knees almost gave out on me. My heart clenched, and my breath caught. Will smiled at Dad, and it hit me, how much he had to lose. If my family found out about us and then things went south, how would it affect Will?
My worries for myself didn’t feel so big in that moment.
Risking a glance, I looked at Will. He thanked Dad, then moved away from him, looking at me because he didn’t want to hurt me. I could swear it was suddenly like my heart was a ninja. The damn thing was trying to fight its way out of my chest and go to him. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was crazy in love with Will. He was…my person. And I never thought I’d have a person, but I knew then that I wouldn’t ever want anyone to be my person other than him.
“Time to eat!” Mom said, but I didn’t move.
Not realizing anything, Dad went into the dining room. Will cleared his throat and followed, but my feet were nailed to the floor. Cherise nudged me. I felt her eyes on me, somehow knew they flicked toward Will and back to me, but I still didn’t go anywhere.
“Nooooo,” she said.
“Shut up.”
“Wait. How? You’re crushin’ on Dad’s PA? You don’t even know him.”
It stung a little that her thoughts automatically went to me liking Will and not that we could have something. “You know I’m always awkward around cute boys.”
“This is different. I swear cartoon hearts flew out of your eyeballs and smacked right into him.”
Because I loved him. “Leave it alone, CC.”
“Um, leave it alone isn’t a no. Holy fuck, what is going on here? And is that why you weirdly wanted to rip my head off when I said he was fine?”
“I can’t. Not now.” I forced myself to move, heading toward the dining room. Of course they had Will sitting by me, because obviously they would. Maybe that was better than looking at me from across the table.
Mom had made homemade mac and cheese. It must have been in the oven all afternoon. Before we dug in, Dad told Will, “When we have dinner together as a family, we always say something we’re thankful for before we eat. I’m thankful for my beautiful family, my queen”—he looked at Mom—“Crane Entertainment, and my newest employee.” His gaze traveled to Will, who nodded.
Mom was thankful for her family and a startup charity project she had going.
Cherise went next. “I’m grateful for bikinis, our upcoming trip to the beach house, and…my brother, who is the best person I know.”
“Huh?” My eyes snapped to hers. “Who are you, and what did you do to my sister?”
“Hey, you know I love you. I always have your back.”
She did. “Well, I guess I’m thankful for you too, and…charity auctions,” I said, hoping that Will knew that meant him. I knew he did.
“I’m, um…thankful for the opportunity to work at Crane Entertainment. It’s a dream come true for me. And summer opportunities that I’ll be lucky if they stick around longer than that.”
Me. He meant me, but I wouldn’t be going anywhere. I’d hold on to him forever if I could.
He added, “And this moment. Being welcomed into your home.”
“Perfect,” Dad replied. “Now dig in. It’s every person for themselves around here.”
We laughed and piled our plates full of food. It went like most family dinners did with conversation and laughs. Dad didn’t talk about work at all, which was nice. I wasn’t an awkward weirdo except for that one moment when I was reaching for my glass, right when Will’s leg brushed against mine, and I spilled my water. Go me.
At some point, we got onto the subject of Will, his family and situation. “My goal for right now is to put as much money away as I can. My dad didn’t have life insurance, and they’d taken out another mortgage on the house. As far as I know, the business is doing okay and all, but it’s not cheap to run a business. My brothers and my mom still have to support themselves. I just…I’m hoping to be able to help pay off the house to make things easier on her.”