True (True Believers #1)(43)
Author: Erin McCarthy

It had the same effect on everyone else, too. They all laughed, Jayden yelling, “Oh my God, so stupid!” as he snorted in amusement.

Easton looked pleased with himself. I didn’t think it was often that he got to be center stage, and I empathized with him. He was more like me at that age than I imagined his brothers were.

“So what is the occasion?” Riley asked, watching me pour the liquid filling into the piecrust.

“Thanksgiving is Thursday,” Tyler told him.

“I know that, idiot. I’m working a side job since I have the day off.”

“Yeah? Good money?”

“Yep. Getting a couple hundred to do a garage roof. So this is a Thanksgiving pie?” He looked like he was having a hard time processing the concept.

“Yeah, since I won’t be here,” I told him. “I wanted to make something and leave it for the boys.”

“You won’t be here, Rory?” Jayden asked, looking disappointed.

I knew I had already mentioned that, but he must have forgotten or chosen to ignore it. “No. I’m going to my dad’s for the weekend.” I felt guilty even saying it. I knew that my day was going to be completely different from theirs, and it broke my heart. So before I realized what I was doing, I said, “You should all come with me. For the day, for dinner. It’s only an hour away.”

Jayden’s and Easton’s faces lit up. “Can we?” Jayden asked Tyler.

But Tyler was already shaking his head. “No.”

“Why not?” Jayden gave him a pleading look. “Rory asked us.”

“Yeah, but Rory didn’t ask her dad, and I doubt he wants three strays he’s never met showing up on his doorstep for handouts.”

“It’s not a handout,” I protested, feeling hurt that my gesture was being thrown back in my face. “You’re my boyfriend. When people date, they spend holidays with each other’s families and no one thinks of it as charity. It’s what you do.”

The argument had struck a chord with him. He knew he was being proud and stubborn. So he tried another angle. “You can’t spring this on him at the last minute. They’ll run short on dinner rolls.”

“Susan always cooks twice as much as anyone can eat. Her parents will be there, too, and my Aunt Molly.” I slid the pie into the oven and set the timer. “It’s pretty boring being the only one under forty. I could use the company.”

“Please?” Jayden asked. “Rory says there’s six pies there.”

Tyler gave his brother a rueful look. “You’re such a food whore. And no. I don’t have the gas money.”

“I’ll give you fifty bucks,” Riley says. “Take the boys and go have a decent dinner for a change.”

I glanced over at Riley, both surprised and pleased. “You’re welcome, too, you know.”

He gave me a smile. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. I don’t want to pass this job up.”

“Mom will freak out,” Tyler said to Riley.

But his brother shrugged. “Mom will always freak out, bro. Can’t do anything about that. Might as well get yourself some pie and deal with her bitching. Better than missing out on it and still having her at you.”

Tyler nodded. “Yeah, you have a point.” He looked at me, still frowning. “Are you sure? You should call your dad first.”

“I will later. It’s fine,” I assured him, though I didn’t really know that for a fact. This was uncharted territory for me. I had never invited anyone, male or female, to any family function. Dad would probably be so stunned he wouldn’t know how to say no. Either that, or curiosity over Tyler would compel him to agree.

Slowly, he looked at his brothers, then at me. “Alright. Thanks, babe. That’s really sweet of you.”

Jayden whooped in triumph.

Tyler pulled me down onto his lap and kissed me. “I hope you don’t regret this,” he murmured in my ear. “The Mann boys don’t have the best manners.”

“It’ll be fine,” I repeated, because I wanted it to be. I kissed him.

“Does this mean we can eat pie today?” Easton asked.

Riley let out a snorting laugh. “I know someone who will be.”

Nice. I fought the urge to squirm.

Tyler threw a lighter at him. “Shut up.”

Riley caught it. “Yeah, that’s going to hurt me.” He used it to light a cigarette he pulled out of his pocket. “Welcome to the jungle, Rory. We take it day by day.”

***

The logical strategy was not to call my dad but to call Susan, which was precisely what I did. I figured she was the cook, so technically she was hostess. She was the one who would have to make adjustments to her meal plan and shopping, not my dad, so it made complete and total sense to ask her instead of having him spring it on her last minute or something.

I was also terrified my dad would say no.

He had asked a bunch of probing questions about Tyler on the phone on Monday, and had commented in a faux jovial tone that he supposed all the kids were into tattoos these days, making it obvious he in no way approved.

So I was calling Susan.

“Hey, Rory, how are you?” she asked when she answered her cell phone.

One of the things I liked best about her was that she was good at being neutral. If she was surprised I had called her, which I never did, she didn’t show it. She also always managed to express interest without it sounding like concern. If I had been forced to deal with someone who was trying too hard, continually asking me if I was okay, I would have had a much harder time accepting a third person inserted into our Macintosh household.

“I’m great, thanks. How are you guys? Is Dad having a mental breakdown about Tyler?” I asked, because I was fairly sure he was.

Susan laughed. “He’s . . . adjusting. He’s not used to the idea of you dating.”

“But he was always asking me if I was seeing anyone,” I protested, as I cut across the quad, the remaining soggy leaves on campus clinging damply to my boots.

“Yeah, well, that’s a man for you. Wanting it and the reality of it are two totally different things. Besides, I think your dad expected you to date someone more like him. A button-up-shirt kind of guy.”

“Well, that’s really egotistical of him,” I said, amused. “Though I suppose I always figured I would end up with a nerd. But you can’t really plan these things.” I felt wise and philosophical about the whole thing.