ONCE MORE, WITH YOU

V

Summer Preston

Hosting Thanksgiving for two hundred people is far more challenging than I anticipated. Instead of holding the dinner at my main residence—where I spend most of my time—I decided to use my rarely-visited mansion. Its size is perfect for accommodating everyone comfortably.

My team of chefs has been cooking tirelessly for the past 24 hours, preparing a lavish spread that caters to everyone's needs. The menu includes gluten-free and lactose-free options, a variety of desserts, and an impressive selection of drinks—chilled in the refrigerator and displayed in champagne buckets along the tables. To ensure the space looked its best, I brought in decorators to refine the entire downstairs area where the festivities would take place.

The guests were invited to arrive at 5:30 PM, leaving me a little time to prepare. In my room, I slipped into a strapless black dress that hugged me perfectly, paired with black stockings and red Christian Louboutin stilettos. I completed the look with straightened hair, smoky eye makeup, brown lip liner, and clear lip gloss. After adding my Van Cleef stud earrings and a matching watch, I sprayed on Baccarat Rouge and made my way downstairs.

By 6:00 PM, guests had started to arrive, and light chatter filled the mansion. I greeted everyone warmly but found Nolan and Adrianna already in the kitchen, sneaking food.

"Stay out of the food!" I scolded, swatting their hands away.

"We're starving! I haven't eaten all day!" Nolan whined.

"It's Thanksgiving! You're supposed to starve until dinner—everyone knows that," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Can we at least have some macaroni and cheese—" Adrianna began.

"No! You'll eat at 6:30 like everyone else," I said firmly before walking away to greet more guests.

Somehow, Nolan and Adrianna found themselves in an intense game of Uno with the kids, even turning it into a gambling match at $15 a round. By the time dinner began, they had lost about $75.

When everyone took their seats—spanning the dining room, kitchen, and living room—I stood up to address them.

"I'm so grateful to have you all here to celebrate Thanksgiving with me. Your dedication to the movie has been unforgettable, and I hope you all enjoy the evening. Happy Thanksgiving!"

The room echoed with warm wishes before the feast began. My chefs served each guest individually, sparing everyone the chaos of passing trays around.

I sat at the head of the table, Nolan to my left and Adrianna to my right. The conversation turned personal as Nolan asked, "How do you feel after seeing lover girl yesterday?"

I sighed, taking a long sip of wine. "I still don't even know why she was there."

"Maybe she came back to confess her love for you," Adrianna teased.

"It's too late for that. It's been four years," I muttered.

"Surprised the paparazzi haven't caught on," Nolan added.

Adrianna smirked. "Maybe her modeling career didn't take off the way she hoped."

We all chuckled before I excused myself to grab another bottle of wine. On my way back, the doorbell rang. Opening it, I found August and her girlfriend, Spencer.

"Hi, August! No worries about being late; dinner just started. Head to the kitchen, and the chefs will show you your seats," I said warmly.

Spencer lingered briefly. "I apologize for yesterday. It was a stressful day, but I'd like for us to start fresh." I said.