Page 64 of Taking the Pitch
“Nonsense. We always have way too much food and it’s not just our family who eats with us.” Mom releases Amelia’s hand and motions to Kessler. “Kessler’s friends Reese and Garrett usually join us for dinner.”
“And this year my friend Kara, her son Kade, and her mom are joining us too,” Lucy chimes in.
Amelia gives Mom and Lucy a warm smile. “I really appreciate the offer. Can I think about it?”
Mom pats her hand again as she rises from her chair. “Of course, dear, take all the time you need. We’ll save you a seat either way.”
Amelia dips her head and whispers a thank you. I give her hand another squeeze and stand, helping Mom clear the dessert and dishes from the table.
I hear Lucy ask her a question as I dump the dishes in the sink and start rinsing them off.
“Do everything you can to make sure that girl doesn’t spend Thanksgiving alone, Judd. Even if it means staying in with her,” Mom says quietly while taking a Tupperware container out of the cabinet.
“I’ll do my best, Mom. I can’t force her to spend time with me.”
She pats my cheek. “Use that charm I know you have to win her over.”
A snort escapes me. “Trust me, Mom. My charm doesn’t work on her.”
Mom looks over my shoulder, then back up at me, giving me a wink. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
I sneak a look over my shoulder to see Amelia watching me from the dining table. When she notices me looking back, she quickly looks away, focusing on something Lucy is saying.
Huh, would you look at that…
CHAPTER NINETEEN
amelia
I. Am.So. Screwed.
After listening to Lucy talk about her and Kessler’s story, watching Judd with Hudson, feeling and experiencing the love Marlene has for everyone in this room, I’m a goner.
I’m seeing Judd in a whole new light. Not only am I starting to fall hard for him, but his family, too.
And that scares the ever-loving shit out of me.
I don’t know if I’m capable of loving someone the way Lucy loves Kessler or Marlene loves Henry. Judd deserves someone who can give him that.
Something inside of me broke the night my parents died, and I don’t know if it can be fixed.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” Judd asks, reaching over and giving my hand a squeeze. Tingles shoot through my arm, like they always seem to do when we touch, before he pulls away and places his hand back on the steering wheel.
“Truthfully?” I ask, looking over at him in the driver’s seat of his Jeep. It’s dark enough that I can only see his profile.
“I always want the truth, even if it’s painful. Hit me with it, Mills. Was Mom too much? Did she make you uncomfortable?”
“No, not at all. Your mom was perfect. And Lucy was hilarious. They made me feel right at home.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I blow out a breath. “There isn’t a problem, that’s the problem.”
“I’m not following.”
Turning in my seat, I prop my arm on the center console and rest my chin on it, staring at him. “What I’m trying to say is that your family is amazing and loving and welcoming and I really, really like them and that’s the most comfortable I’ve felt with strangers in I don’t even know how long.”
“Oooh ‘kay. I’m sorry, still not catching on here.”
