After working in the morning, I shower and get dressed for Thanksgiving lunch at my parents' house. I’m shocked to see I’m the first one to arrive. As soon as Mama sees me, she grabs my chin and examines my face.

“What the hell happened now?”

“You should ask your other son.” I lock my jaw firmly in place.

“Kane did this?” she asks in surprise just as Dad enters through the back door.

“He got ya good,” Dad says with a chuckle. “You two need to get along.”

“Kinda like how you and Uncle John did?”

Dad snags a piece of cornbread from the table that’s already set with food dishes. “Pretty sure he never punched me in the face. Wasn’t that stupid.”

Mom glares at him.

“What?” He shrugs. “John knows I would’ve laid him down flat.”

“That’s what I wanted to do!” I defend. “But…”

“But you didn’t,” Kane gloats from the doorway, then sits at the table.

“Why did you do that?” Mom asks him, moving the cranberry sauce to the middle of the table. Dad reaches for another piece of cornbread, but she slaps his hand. “You can wait until Kaitlyn and Payton arrive, and we say grace.” She turns to Kane. “Tell me now before we go for dessert, and I catch wind of what’s goin’ on between you two.”

Kane glares at me, and before he can speak up, Kaitlyn enters. “Shit. Y’all are in trouble, aren’t ya?”

“Manners,” Dad reminds her, then grins at Payton while shaking his hand.

“Someone gonna tell me what’s goin’ on? We aren’t eatin’ until I know,” Mom warns.

“Kane’s pissed because Knox took Hadleigh out last weekend,” Kaitlyn says nonchalantly, but it’s actually a much bigger deal.

“And? What’s wrong with that? She won Knox at the bachelor auction. You knew that was gonna happen.” Mom scolds Kane.

He swallows hard, and I wait for him to explain himself, something that he hasn’t done yet. Instead, he’s been too caught up in his emotions to talk to me and has treated me like I’m his enemy when I’m fucking not.

“He thinks I’m gonna hurt her,” I say.

“Because you hurt everyone you screw,” Kane hisses.

“I don’t wanna hear it.” Mom holds up her hands. “Regardless of what Knox does, Hadleigh’s single, Kane. You have to realize she’s an adult and can do whatever she wants. If you’re jealous, then that’s on you.”

“Thank you!” I say, throwing up my arms. “Finally!”

“But that doesn’t make you innocent.” Mom turns to me. “Your dad was too chickenshit to say how much I meant to him, and I almost married someone else. So if either of you has feelings for her, y’all need to speak up before it’s too late.”