The Start of Time

Chapter 8

I don't think I can hold it off any longer. Kennedy has been drilling me about where I've been lately and asking seven hundred questions about Declan, and Declan won't stop making jokes about Kennedy being the imaginary friend I use to get guys to flirt with me, which doesn't even make sense when I don't want to be there in the first place.

I don't know why I'm nervous. It's not like I'm introducing Declan to my parents or anything. Is this what it feels like when Jackson introduces me to some new girl or one of his friends? It's important that the people in my life get along with each other, and there's never really been this many people at my house all at once.

Surely with Maverick and Hailey as buffers it will be much less awkward. At least any games we play will be more fun as a group.

After turning down the music momentarily to scrounge over my ingredient list, I turn it back to full blast, throwing ingredients into a pot and dancing around the kitchen. Amidst the chaos, I hear multiple knocks echo through the house.

My sigh of relief is somehow louder than the music when I'm greeted by Declan casually leaning against the door frame.

"Please tell me you know how to cook pancetta. It's not that hard."

I'm already making my way back to the kitchen with Declan following right behind me. "No, 'Hey, Declan. How are you? Come in.' Aren't you supposed to offer me a drink or something?"

I know he's just messing with me, but I don't have time to listen to him try to be funny. I'm just trying to do basic math in my head, so there will be enough food. I don't think there was ever a time I had to make this much for dinner.

"You've been here enough times to know where the drinks are. Now, are you going to help me or not? I'll even beg if I have to."

"I like the idea of you on your knees, begging for me."

"And I like the idea of you actually being helpful instead of saying stupid shit like that with a straight face."

He slides right in beside me, grabbing what he needs.

"Now, you do know—"

"MK, I'm half Italian. I think I'll manage." He reaches around me to press play on the music until it's blaring once again.

He somehow finds a way to bump into me every few seconds, reaching for things he doesn't need, pulling random things from the cabinet above my head.

Now that I have a little help, his annoyances are actually a little funny, and I'm more at ease, singing with him at the top of my lungs and laughing like idiots.

"So, why the random dinner for an army? Who all is even coming?" He asks.

"Kennedy and Will, Chris and Hailey, Stella and Gen, and then, you and Mav. I just figured since you and Kennedy pester me every other day, it was time to introduce everyone."

The table is set, Declan is tossing the salad, the bread is about to come out of the oven, and everything is just about ready with three minutes to spare, assuming Kennedy isn't twenty minutes late, per usual.

There's three loud knocks at the door, and when I open it, five people are silently staring back at me and Declan. Apparently, Kennedy and Will got there at the same time as Chris and Hailey, and despite the fact that I've shown Kennedy pictures of Declan multiple times, I'm assuming she still confused him with Chris, freaked, and went into defense mode because of Hailey.

She just has that look in her eye.

"Wow," I blurt, hoping it will ease some of the awkwardness. "How did you guys both make it at the same time?"