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A huge smile broke across her face as she launched up and hugged me tight. “I’d love to. When?”
“How about Sunday night? After we tell your family.”
“Yeah,” she laughed, “we might both want to be scarce after that.”
So she wouldn’t get a sense of the dread I had for Sunday, I grabbed her hand and led her out and across Main Street toward the plaza parking lot. Anna would never lose her family, but I could certainly lose my best friend. And the only family I’d ever known.
I’d risk it for Anna. I’d risk everything for her. But it didn’t make the heartache or fear disappear.
Chapter Ten
~ANNA~
At the soundof someone coming in the backdoor, my stomach did a triple-flip. Reed always came in the backdoor without knocking. I was in the kitchen, tossing a green salad while Mom stirred the sausage and tasso jambalaya that had just finished cooking.
“Just in time, sweetheart,” she said lightly to the fine as hell man who made my knees buckle as he entered the kitchen, a small ice chest in hand.
“Smells delicious, Ms. Dinah.”
“Hope you brought your appetite because there’s plenty.”
“Oh, I did.” But his gaze was on me, not my Mom’s jambalaya.
I’d worn a pretty floral summer dress with a delicate ruffle at the hem which hit right above my knees. It tied in a halter-top style behind my neck. I knew this one made my boobs look great, and I wanted to look my best for him.
Still, I was utterly shocked how openly he was eating me up with his fire-blue eyes. I could already hear the naughty words he’d say to me later as he slipped his hand up my skirt. I squeezed my thighs together at the hungry look of his and mouthedstop it.
To which, he simply grinned and said, “Jonah and Mr. Jimmy outside?”
“Yeah. They’re waiting on your drinks.”
His gaze lingered on me long enough to make my cheeks go hot, then I turned away to finish the salad.
“Bring it to the table when it’s ready, sweetheart,” Mom said, carrying the Magnalite pot of jambalaya.
Deep breath in and out, I followed her a minute later. The basket of bread rolls was already there.
“Justin, honey, grab the butter out of the fridge,” she told my brother as he came in the sliding door.
“Sure thing, Mom.”
Then Dad, Jonah, and Reed followed, laughing about something, carrying their Old Fashioneds that Reed had provided again. Jessie came in right after, tapping away on his phone.
“Y’all get seated and pass your plates,” Mom said.
Mom liked to serve from the table, but she also liked to be the one dishing out the main course. Everyone took a seat, Reed right next to me as he usually was. Funny, I’d never noticed that his permanent place here at our table had always been right beside me. Like he belonged at my side. That gave me a little courage for what was about to come.
“Smells great, Mom,” said Jonah, shoving his plate in front of Reed’s to get served first.
“Your dad’s request since we hadn’t had it in a while.”
The typical Sunday dinner chaos commenced, plates clinking and being passed, hands reaching for the salad bowl and breadbasket. Mom fetched her pitcher of iced tea and set it on the table then settled in her chair and we all dove in.
“So how’s work, Reed?” Dad asked.
“Very good, sir. Lots of work. Can’t complain.”
“That’s right, son. Keeps the paychecks coming.”
