Best Friend's Brother

Chapter Eighteen

 By the time dinner rolled around I had calmed down enough to pretend to be okay with everything. The nap I'd taken in Matt's arms - accidentally, I reminded myself - also helped.

Whitney made sure I was sitting between her and Gracey for dinner for which I was grateful. Matt sat across the table from me and Marcie sat on his left. The others were scattered around the table with the little kids eating at their own table in the corner.

I didn't eat much but I tried to move the food around on my plate so that it looked like I'd had more than I did. Whitney wasn't fooled and by the time the older generation left the table to gossip some more she placed a hand on my wrist. "Give it up, Claire."

Marcie glared at me as she paused in the middle of a long winded story about a paper she had to write for one of her classes. Obviously the fact that someone said my name was more than she could handle.

I put my fork down and stood up. "Look, I knew it wasn't a good idea for me to come. I should go home."

Gracey glared at Marcie. "There's no reason to. Everyone here's civil, right?"

Marcie raised an eyebrow in my direction. "I know I am but I don't know about some people."

Matt groaned and put his head in his hands. "Just stop it, Marcie."

I picked up my place and scooped my leftover food into the garbage. I felt bad for wasting the food but I couldn't stomach anymore.

"Why do you always side against me, Matt?" Marcie fake sobbed. "I did nothing wrong and it's obvious your whole family hates me!"

I tuned her out and walked over to where the kids were finishing up. I kneeled beside Anastasia and she smiled at me.

"Auntie Claire! Are you going to play with us after dinner?"

I paused. "I think I should go home. You should play with your cousins."

She grabbed my hand and shook her head. "No, you're playing with all of us. Tell her, Simon."

Simon nodded and shoved more food in his mouth. "You were busy before so play with us now."

"Chew before you speak," Whitney called from the grownup table.

Simon swallowed and then opened his mouth in Whitney's direction. "All done, Mama."

I sighed and Anastasia smiled. "You can't leave yet."

Oliver, Gracey's five year old son, nodded. "You always play with us before going home."

I looked to Whitney for help but she shook her head. "I don't know guys. I think you need to try harder to make Claire stay."

"I know!" Brandi, Gracey's daughter, said. "Mama, Aunt Whitney and Aunt Claire can watch a movie with us!"

Jace laughed. "I don't want to watch one of your movies."

Anastasia lightly punched his shoulder. "Yes you do."

"Mama, Anastasia hit me!" Jace cried.

"No hitting," Whitney said appearing behind me. "And a movie would be a great idea. Eat up and then we can all decide on the perfect movie to watch together."

"Yay!" they cried together.

I sighed and stood up. I followed Whitney into the living room and sighed again. "I swear you put the kids up to these things. I could have left if you hadn't helped them."

"Not true," she said sitting down on the couch next to Tyler. He placed his arm around her shoulders and she cuddled into his side. "The kids wouldn't have let you leave either way. They're too attached to you for them to let you go so easily."