Chapter 19

Anya

I wake up bright and early on Sunday morning to help my mother prepare all of the food for dinner. The sun is just starting to rise, casting a warm, golden glow through the kitchen windows. Last night, my mother and I stayed up super late making chocolates just for today. The kitchen still carries the sweet, lingering aroma of melted chocolate, and there are trays of beautifully crafted truffles and bonbons arranged on the counter.

As we chop vegetables and season the roast, the room fills with the comforting sounds of sizzling pans and the rhythmic chop of knives. I ask my mother why we are going all out, but she just smiles, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief, and says, "No reason." Her cryptic response only piques my curiosity further.

Tripp stumbles into the kitchen a while later, and gives our mother a peck on the cheek. "Smells good," he mumbles, and it's apparent he's had a rough night.

"Tripp, be a dear and help your father get the sleeve for the table. We've got a full house tonight," my mother says.

"I still don't know why we've invited so many people," Tripp says, heading out of the kitchen most likely in search of our father to help him set up the dining room.

"Our home is always open," she hollers after him.

I smile as I continue to chop the carrots. "Does he seem a lot more angry lately?"

My mother opens the oven to check on the roast. "He's dealing with something." She shuts the oven. "I just wish he'd tell somebody what that thing is."

I nod. "Griffin agreed to talk to him."

My mother beams. "Griffin is such a good man."

I try not to look too affected by her words. Like we haven't seen each other naked. "Sure," I say, absentmindedly. "He's nice."

My mother's obviously not buying it, but she doesn't press the matter for which I'm thankful for. "Hartford and Paxton should be here soon." My mother appears almost giddy at the idea of them showing up.

I park a hand on my hip. "What's really going on?"

My mother can't contain her excitement. "I'm not telling you much, all I know is Hartford and Paxton have an announcement."

My heart picks up in my chest. "You think Paxton proposed?"

My mother swats me with a towel. "I don't know. Hopefully it's that and not him telling us he knocked her up."

I laugh lightly. "It's not like Hartford is some one-night stand. He loves her. They obviously belong together." I'm so happy for my brother.

"I know." My mother almost looks like she could cry at any moment. "Honestly, I'd be over the moon if Hartford's got a bun in the oven."

We can't finish our conversation because my brothers, Callum and Shepherd, enter the kitchen. They both kiss our mother on the cheek, glance around the kitchen looking for scraps, and say their hellos.

"How's the party planning going for the mayor's thing?" Callum asks me, always all business.

"No, absolutely not," our mother scolds. "No business talk today."

Callum rolls his eyes, but continues looking at me, waiting for my response.

"I'm all over it. The party will be amazing. Mayor Reeves is going to get a small article in the local paper about the brewery this week, before the event. I already sent him all the promotional material."

Shepherd wraps an arm around my shoulder. "Have I ever told you that you're my favorite sister?"

"I'm your only sister."

He steps away from me, grabbing a slice of an apple Mom's cutting to prepare the apple pie and pops it into his mouth. "Still my favorite."

I laugh as Hartford and Paxton waltz into the kitchen. After everyone's said their hellos, Hartford steps up closer to me. "I heard a secret about you," she sing-songs, and my heart nearly plummets into my stomach.

"Secret?" I ask as Griffin decides at this very moment to walk into the kitchen. "What secret?"

Griffin's eyes meet mine, and my heart thumps wildly in my chest. "Hey," he whispers to me first before he gets torn away by Callum and Shep.

I can't even say hey back, because I return my attention back to Hartford. "What secret?"

"I heard somebody's making a name for herself as the head party planner at Atta Boy."

A sense of relief washes over me. Phew. I can breathe.

"Oh, right," I say, trying my best to smile. "Yes."

"Is the party in here?" Lake says, holding Willow's hand.

After everyone has said hello, and a few of the people, Griffin included, have left the kitchen, I'm left standing with my mother, Willow, and Hartford.

"Wonder when Millie's coming?" Hartford says, checking the time on her phone. "I can't believe her and Brock just started dating."

"I don't think they're technically dating. I think Brock is using the words, ‘seeing each other'," I say, using air-quotes.

Tripp walks into the kitchen, and spots that it's just us girls in here and immediately walks right back out.

"What was all that about?" Hartford asks.

"Something's going on with him. He's been super grumpy lately. More than usual." I finish the carrots and hand them off to my mother.

"You know," Hartford starts. "Shep has been extra grumpy too. Ever since he's been home."

"Really?" my mother and I say in unison.

Willow chimes in with, "Maybe they've both got girl troubles."

Hartford leans her hip against the counter. "Paxton did say Shepherd hooked up with his neighbor over Christmas." Hartford glances at my mother whose face has fallen flat. "Sorry, Carol. You know what I mean."

We all laugh, minus my mother. My mother nearly swats her hand in the air. "I don't pretend to think my men aren't out being men."

Hartford's eyes go wide, and her cheeks blush. "Not Paxton," she says in a rush, and we all laugh harder, even my mother this time. "Seriously, we're abstaining from sexual…" her words fall away as she appears she's making the conversation worse.

"We all know you have sex," I say. "We read your article."

"Anya," Hartford nearly yells at the top of her lungs. "Oh god," she covers her face, "I can't believe you just said that around your mother." She faces my mother. "Carol, I'm sorry."

Mom only laughs harder. "Girls, as much as I've enjoyed this, get out of my kitchen."

Hartford spins on her heels quickly. "Gladly."

"I haven't talked to you in forever," Willow grabs my arm as we walk out of the kitchen and onto the back patio where everyone is sitting. "I'm sorry I've been so absent. Things with Lake are going really well."

I stop walking so I can hug my best friend. "I'm really happy for you. Lake is a great guy. Paxton wouldn't be friends with him if he wasn't."

"Your brothers are good judges of characters, especially Cal." She nods over at Griffin. "Griffin is a great guy too."

I'm nearly spilling over from trying to keep this secret. I whisper, "Actually, can you keep a secret?"

"Always."

"Something's kind of happened with him."

Willow screams at the top of her lungs, and everyone stops to stare at her. "Sorry," she says with a blush. She grabs my arm, pushing past Brock and Millie who have just shown up to the party. "Tell me all the things," she says as we stand in the laundry room.

"Well." My cheeks flame hot. "I mean…" I can't get the words out.

"Is he a good kisser? Have you had sex?" Her eyes widen. "Oh my god, he's a stallion in the bedroom."

I laugh. "Willow, I can't believe you just asked that."

"Well, is he?"

I nod, my cheeks on fire. "Yes, he's amazing."

Willow clutches her chest. "I'm so happy for you."

"What about Lake?" I ask her when her face falls slightly. "He's good, right?"

Willow sucks in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Let's just say, we're still working out the kinks."

I want to ask what this means, but Brock barges into the laundry room. "Mom's looking for you," he says to me, then he stares at Willow. "Should have known you'd be hiding in here from everyone."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Willow crosses her arms against her chest.

"Just means you're probably causing trouble. Getting Anya to do something bad, like when Anya was in high school and you talked her into skipping class."

Willow brushes past me so she can poke a finger into Brock's chest. "That wasn't me, by the way, that was April Billingsworth, and we don't talk to her anymore because she's a mean girl. Just like you're a mean boy."

Brock laughs. "You don't even know me."

"I know you well enough, and you're mean."

Brock steps closer, towering over Willow's shorter frame. "Only to you." And he walks out of the laundry room.

Willow pushes her brown curls off her face. "I hate your brother."

Trying to ease the tension, I laugh. "He's only joking with you, Willow. He isn't only mean to you." But he kind of is.

I don't know what the issue is with Brock and Willow, but they've always fought with each other. Ever since they were little.

Together Willow and I head back into the kitchen, and I smile when I spot Griffin helping my mother cook.

"Did you need me, Mom?" I ask her, and my mother smiles.

"Can you and Griffin head to the store and pick up another jug of milk? We've completely run out."

Willow stifles a laugh beside me, and I nudge her with my elbow. Real smooth.

"Um, sure. Okay." I shake my head, trying my best to pretend my mother isn't the most obvious person in the whole wide world.

Griffin and I walk side by side, heading toward the front door when Callum stops us.

"Where are you two off to?" he asks with an arch of his brow.

"Mom wants us to pick up milk. She says we're out."

"I just saw a full jug in the fridge in the garage." He heads in that direction, and returns quickly with a carton of milk, and Griffin laughs beside me.

Callum hauls Griffin away, and I head back into the kitchen.

"Nice try, Mom," I say.

She shrugs. "Had to try something."

I want to tell my mother all about Griffin and me, but I know my mother, she can not keep a secret. And this is a biggie.

"Hi Carol," Millie says, walking into the kitchen with Hartford and Brock.

"Millie, how's the store?" my mother asks her.

Millie's a cute little blonde who owns the local bookstore downtown. She's got these bright blue eyes, and she's always smiling. It shows off her dimples in each cheek.

"It's going well. I can't believe next month will be two years since it's been open."

"Time flies," I say.

"Anya, hey. Claire has been non stop talking about her anniversary dinner you held for her at Atta Boy."

"Yeah, we had a great time."

Tripp stalks into the kitchen, and stops when he sees us all talking.

"Hey Tripp," my mother says. "Did you and Dad figure out the table?"

He shrugs, nods, and flies out of the kitchen like he was just struck by lightning.

"Wonder what his deal is," Brock says, leaning to give Millie a kiss on the cheek. "I'm gonna go and talk to him."

As soon as he leaves I breathe a sigh of relief that the conversation is no longer focused on Griffin and me. I keep wanting to seek him out. Be around him if not only for a second. I wonder if I could text him to meet me up in my bedroom.

No, that's way too risky. But why am I pulling out my phone?