“Ah, that makes more sense.” I walk down the street toward my apartment.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet, and I figured Thanksgiving was as good a time as any.”

My stomach drops for a moment. “Oh my god, Finn are you dating someone special?”

Over the years, I’ve only ever met one woman my brother has dated and that was a chance meeting at a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. He has never, ever wanted me to meet someone before.

“You’re not going to make a big deal about this, are you?” His tone is eerily similar to Andrew’s at dinner and I’m getting a better idea of how the two of them might connect as friends. They both have that agitated lawyerness.

“How long have you been seeing her?” I stop at the corner when I spot Mrs. Hoffmeister smoking on the front stoop of our building. No doubt she’ll ask me to do something for her if I pass her. I might as well wait, see if she goes inside.

“Zahra and I have been together for about nine months.”

“Oh, love her name. So pretty. But seriously, Finn, how is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

He sighs and I picture him pushing his hand through his sandy-colored hair. “I didn’t want to jinx anything.”

Oh, she must be really special.

“You don’t say…”

“Cut the shit, Mac. Are you coming or not?”

I chuckle. “Of course I’m coming. Let me know what you want me to bring.”

“Will do. Oh, and you should know that Mom and Dad will be joining us too.”

The excitement I felt moments ago plummets to the ground like a dead bird splattering on the concrete sidewalk.

My brother quickly fills the silence. “C’mon, Mac. It’s not that big a deal. It’ll be fine.”

My parents and I have a complicated relationship, to put it mildly. I love them, they’re my parents, but growing up wasn’t easy.

“Are you sure you want to do that? What if they start fighting at dinner and Zahra is there?”

“I’ve already explained their dynamic to her. She’s prepared.”

I frown. “What are they doing in Manhattan anyway?”

“They’re at some conference down in Florida the week of and their flight home has a layover in Newark, so they figured why not just spend the night and come into Manhattan for Thanksgiving. They’re leaving the next day.”

Nice of them to mention to me that they were coming to town.

“Sure, I’ll be there. Listen, if Tessa stays in town, can I bring her along?” Normally I hang with Tessa on Thanksgiving, or if she headed home to Milwaukee, I’d join her.

“Sure, the more the merrier.”