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“Thanks, Mars. We’re excited. Right, boys?” Sue Ann turned to Skip and Joseph, who nodded obediently.
“Great news!” My dad grinned. “Another Miller. Amazing!” He beamed at Josh and Sue Ann, clearly thrilled his genes were being passed on one more time.
I inhaled, checked my watch. Five P.M. already. I had to talk to my brothers, but really wanted to go soon. I was kinda hoping to rendezvous with Quinn later, to be honest.
“Let me clean up, Sue Ann. Mars and I can get this.” I stood, stacking plates and collecting silverware.
“No, no, I can do it.” Sue Ann went to stand, but I pressed her on the shoulder.
“We insist,” I said. “You should rest.” I motioned to Mars to follow me to the kitchen.
“Well, that’s exciting!” Mars said, as we loaded dishes into the dishwasher.
“Yeah, it’s great. Hope it’s a girl, for her sake,” I said, scrubbing dried sweet potato off a plate.
“I won’t take offense,” Mars said, bristling.
“You know what I mean.” I cut my eyes at him. “Now, not to sound narcissistic, but I have to tell my brothers about Quinn. Like, tonight. Thoughts?” I turned to him, only to notice Ben had wandered in with the turkey.
“What about him?” Ben asked, gnawing on a drumstick.
“Hmm?” I said, eyebrows raised.
“Quinn. What about him? Heard you say you had to talk to us. What’s up? More fire inspection issues?” Ben took another bite of bird.
I shut the water off, dried my hands on my jeans. Mars backed out of the kitchen, slowly.Coward.
“Um, maybe we should get Josh?” I nodded my head towards the dining room.
“Josh! Come in here! Lanie’s got a problem!” Ben yelled, barely breaking stride on the turkey bone.
“Not a problem, actually, Ben,” I muttered, shoving my hand in my back jeans pocket.Ugh, this was so awkward.
Josh barreled into the kitchen, Skip on his back.
“Skip, could you draw me a picture for the bakery?” I asked. My nephew definitely didn’t need to be privy to this convo.
“Sure, Aunt Lanie.” He scrambled off Josh’s back, running to fetch his crayons.
“What’s up?” Josh snagged a piece of turkey off the plate Ben had brought in.
“Okay,” I said, clearing my throat. My chest was tight, and it was really hot in this kitchen. “Don’t freak out.”
Ben put his drumstick down on the counter. “What’s up, Lanie? Now you’re scaring me. You’re not sick, are you?”
“No. No, it’s nothing like that.” I shuffled my feet, staring hard at a scuff in the leather on my riding boot. My cheeks burned and I took another deep breath.
“I’m kind of, sort of, seeing someone.”
“So?” Josh stared at me. “You’ve dated about a hundred people. So what? Wait—you’re not pregnant too, are you?”
“What? No! God, no,” I said, gasping for air at the mere thought.
“K, good. So what’s the big deal?” Josh asked, furrowing his brow.
“Hold up. You just said something about Quinn,” Ben said, pointing his index finger at me, trying to piece all the info together.
“Uh, yeah. I’m kind of seeing him.” I bit my lip, willed myself to make eye contact with my brothers.
