Page 104 of Delayed Penalty

The side of his mouth kicks up into a grin. “You’re playing house with him.”

I jerk my head back. “Excuse me?”

“The hockey player. You’re playing house with him, aren’t you?”

I scowl. “No. Now ring me up, old man.”

Slowly, he grabs the cookies, running them under the scanner. “You’re lying, kid. To me, and to yourself.”

“I am not.”

But the words don’t come out as strong as I hoped they would. Is he right? Am I playing house with Flora and Hayes? I know the lines are a little blurry given what’s going on with Hayes and me, but do I look at us like we’re one big happy family?

Yes.

They’re coming to Thanksgiving with me, for fuck’s sake. I mean, sure, that was mostly my mother’s doing, but I didn’t even try to fight her when she suggested it. In fact, I was thrilled by the idea of bringing someone to dinner for the first time, having someone there just for me because they’re mine.

Shit.

George is right. I’m playing house with Hayes and Flora.

And I think I wish it wasn’t playing anymore.

“Whatever,” I mumble, grabbing my stuff and heading out the door before he analyzes me any more. “Happy Thanksgiving!” I call over my shoulder.

“Quinn! We aren’t done talking about this!”

“Yes we are!” I say back, running out of the store and straight to the car.

“You good?” Hayes asks as I hand him the cookies, completely out of breath.

“Yep.”

But I’m not good. I’m not good at all.

“Are you nervous?”

I nod, blowing out a heavy breath as I stare at thelilac-painted door, the same color that welcomes you to B’s Bakes. My mother’s favorite, as Hayes will soon find out.

“To visit my family? Always.”

I’m always on edge when we have family dinners, but today my nerves are extra frayed. It’s all George’s fault, that grouchy old man I love so dearly. He had to go and get all in my head about “playing house” with Hayes and Flora, and all I did on the ride over here was overanalyze absolutely every last second of the past two months.

Am I spending more time with them than I realized? Yes. Would I rather spend my off days hanging out and doing something with them than going somewhere on my own? Yeah. Is there a chance I’m inserting myself into their lives so deeply that when this is all over, I’m going to be irrevocably changed and completely crushed? Absolutely.

Yet I can’t find it in me to stop. I love Flora. Being with her is the highlight of my day. I drop her off at school with a frown and pick her up with a smile, so excited to get to spend more time with her.

And Hayes? Well, it’s safe to say I am immensely enjoying my time with him. Perhaps a little too much. We’ve gone from stolen nights to spending our time without Flora together doing the most mundane things like building a swing set and painting Flora’s room apretty blush and even doing laundry together. It’s so…normal. And not at all like two people who swore it was just sex and nothing else.

“I thought you loved your mother,” Hayes says, pulling me out of my head.

“Oh, I do. Very much so. My father too. It’s my siblings that are the nightmare.”

“That bad?”

He doesn’t even know. Well, maybe he does a little since he has an awful brother too. It’s not that my siblings are truly awful people. They have their faults, sure, but at their roots they’re good. I think they just forget about being good where I’m concerned.

“Can I press the button now?” Flora asks, Pickles tucked safely in her arms.

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