Mending Heart |18+|

Chapter 29 🔥

Shenanigans

"I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic then to love people." – Vincent van Gogh

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"Yes, Ethan?" I answered, the corners of my lips tugging upwards in a smile.

"McKenzie." He replied, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "Whatcha doing?"

"Sitting." I couldn't help but laugh. It was 10 AM, on a Wednesday morning. "Are you that bored at work you decided to call me?"

"No." He chuckled. "I wanted to ask what you were doing for Thanksgiving tomorrow."

"Well, let's see – " I pretended to ponder my answer. "Eating, taking a nap, eating some more, and bringing out my Christmas decorations."

"Christmas decorations? In November?" He asked, stifling his amusement.

My family and I didn't have a lot of traditions growing up, but decorating our tree after Thanksgiving was one of them. It started when it was me, my mom, and my dad, and it continued when Dave came into the picture. Mom usually brought down the boxes from the attic on Thanksgiving day after dinner, and we'd go out and pick a tree the following day.

It was also always a natural tree, none of that fake artificial tree crap you could find at Target or on Amazon.

"I'm hanging up..." I replied in a sing-song voice. There are very few things I genuinely enjoy in life, and Christmas was one of them. This time last year, I had just settled into my new apartment, unpacked boxes still scattered around – but I still went out and bought a tree.

If that doesn't tell you how committed I am to the holiday, I don't know what will.

"No, wait –" Ethan chuckled on the other end. "Don't hang up."

"Give me a good reason not to." I retorted, setting my bowl in the sink.

"Because you love talking to me?"

"Wrong! Try again."

"Liar."

"Me? Never –"

"Very funny, McKenzie." I could almost see him rolling his eyes through the phone. "I'm having a couple of people over for dinner tomorrow night. Do you want to come? You can bring a friend or your sister."

"And by a few people, do you actually mean a few people or the entire Thomas clan?" I scoffed. The Thomas family was legendary for their gatherings, or so they say according to Google. There's not a lot of information about Ethan's family out there, but the few photos that did pop up, there were at least twenty people present at each gathering.

Yes, I googled him a while back – sue me.

Instead of answering my question, Ethan asked, "Does that mean you'll come?"

"I'll think about it." I sighed, my heart rate picking up speed. I wasn't sure why I was scared to meet his family. I had already met his father at a few work functions, but this time it would be different. I wouldn't be meeting them in an official work capacity – I would be meeting them as Ethan's... Friend? Girlfriend?

It's stupid really, because Ethan met my family months ago so it really shouldn't be such a big deal – yet here we are.

I should make a mental note to ask Caryn about this the next time I see her.

"Of cour –" He was cut off, and I could hear MaryAnn's muffled voice in the background. Then, Ethan cursed under his breath. "I'm sorry McKenzie, but I have to go. Just think about tomorrow." I didn't get a chance to reply, because the line went dead.