Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

“Trying to convince myself I look okay. It’s not working. Can we stop by my house so I can change?”

“Why?”

“This isn’t appropriate for dinner with your parents.”

I cocked a brow. “Why not?”

“I’m wearing flip-flops and a strapless dress.”

“It’s just a dinner.”

She laced her fingers in front of her, fiddling with her thumbs.

“Are you nervous again?”

“Obviously.”

“Don’t be. And you look beautiful. In fact, if my sister weren’t in the back seat, I’d show you exactly how much this dress is doing it for me.”

She playfully shoved me away. “Doing it? Well, it has to do it for your parents. Keep your mind out of the gutter. This is serious.”

“I am serious.”

Sighing, she rolled her shoulders. “Okay. Let’s go, then. Being late is worse than being underdressed.”

The second we arrived at the mansion, it was clear this hadn’t been planned at the last minute. Dinner consisted of five courses. The dead giveaway: there were fresh flowers in the centerpiece of the table. Mom only prepared centerpieces for guests.

“So, yeah. I’m all set for prom,” Bianca said.

“I don’t understand why you’re not letting me help you with the preparty,” Mom complained.

Bianca and I exchanged a furtive glance before she politely said, “You have enough to do, Mom. That’s all under control.”

“You’re intentionally keeping me out of it, aren’t you?”

Oh, shit. How could she tell?

With the skills of a PR pro, Hailey stepped in. “It’s good to make older brothers feel useful, Mrs. Davenport. Otherwise they get... restless.”

Mom laughed. Hailey winked

at me.

“Hear, hear,” Dad said. “Hailey, I think you’re finally going to bring peace to this table. These two have been bickering ever since Bianca started high school.”

“Well, to be fair, I don’t think I can help much with that. I am still bickering with my brothers. I just have two sisters who band with me against them.”

Mom and Dad both smiled, and Bianca looked at Hailey as if she walked on water.

How did she blend in so well with us, get my parents to effortlessly talk to her? They usually kept my dates at arm’s length, but I think they realized how special Hailey was for me.

“Bianca, how is school?” Hailey asked. “Anyone still giving you trouble?”

I straightened up, glancing at my sister.

“Well, your tactics have helped. But some still like to talk.”

“It’ll fade away eventually,” Hailey said confidently. I wasn’t feeling as confident as her.