“Alex,” Dan called, turning our attention to the table where Alex’s dad was sitting with his aunt and uncle. “Your girl’s freezing, son. Maybe get her in a hot shower before all the introductions and announcements?”

“Shit. Sorry, sweets,” Alex said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

As he led me out of the kitchen, everyone started laughing. I was too embarrassed to turn around, because I just knew that they were laughing at us. But then Liz’s dry voice called over the chuckles, and I felt my lips twitch.

“Son, if you leave those jeans in the laundry room, I’ll try and get that dirt stain off the ass of them.”

“Aw, shit,” Alex whispered, pushing me even faster down the hallway.

I laughed.

*  *  *

Later, after introductions had been made and congratulations had been handed out, we sat down to a table brimming with food. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, multiple different types of fruit salads and cranberry sauces, some orange thing with marshmallows that looked like vomit but Alex seemed to love—there was so much food that I wasn’t sure how we would even put a dent in it.

“Nothing is made with pork,” Alex said quietly into my ear. “I’m not sure about all the rules, but I told my mom no pork.”

I met his eyes and leaned in for a kiss. “Thank you.”

“If there’s anything else that you can’t eat, just pass it along,” he said, giving me a small smile.

“I wish Katie was here,” Liz said as we passed dishes around and filled our plates.

“She said that they were going to do a big dinner with the neighbors this year,” Ani replied. “So thankfully, she’s not homesick.”

“She’s still homesick,” Trevor said. “But I’m glad that she’s occupied today.”

“My sister hates missing family holidays,” Alex explained. “But Shane’s stationed in Southern California, and they have a million kids, so they can’t make it to all of them.”

“Too expensive,” Liz said.

“Too much hassle,” Bram said.

“Too many kids,” Ani joked.

“No such thing,” Alex’s aunt Ellie scolded, smiling at her granddaughter, who’d been seated next to her in a high chair.

When I’d met Trevor’s girlfriend, Morgan, before we’d sat down, I’d instantly liked her. She was quiet, and she seemed like a deer in the headlights when surrounded by this noisy family, but she was holding her own.

“Do you have a big family?” Liz asked, smiling at me.

I swallowed the food I’d been chewing and shook my head.

“Just my aunt and uncle in our immediate family,” I replied. “But tons of extended family.”

“Alex told me you lost your parents,” she said sympathetically. “I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks,” I replied softly. “I’m lucky to have my aunt and uncle still.”