Game Saver - BJ Harvey Page 0,24

me and poking her tongue out, making me chuckle. “One bouncing baby girl.” She leans over and quietly adds, “Much to my parents’ annoyance.”

“Callie!” Mom gasps. “We’re over the moon that we’ll be having a granddaughter soon.”

“Of course you are, Mom,” she replies.

“And Abi . . .” my mother says, switching her attention back to my date, “what is it that you do? Cade wasn’t very forthcoming with information about you.”

“I’m a hotel manager,” Abi replies cheerfully.

“Oh . . .” Mom’s voice giving away her opinion of Abi’s answer. “And you’re from Chicago?”

“Colorado originally.”

I drop my hand to Abi’s shoulder and give a gentle—hopefully reassuring—squeeze.

“Mom, leave the poor woman alone,” Callie says, narrowing her eyes.

Mom’s face goes pale, and she lifts her fingers to rest over her heart. “I’m sorry, Abi. I didn’t mean to—”

With perfect poise, Abi doesn’t miss a beat. “It’s perfectly fine, Mrs. Carsen.” She reaches back and rubs my hand on her arm. “You’re just being a protective mother. My mom has four sons, and I’ve witnessed her carry out many a Spanish inquisition.”

My eyes bug out, and Callie’s mouth drops open. Abi just handled my mother. Like a pro. That’s definitely earned her more than one orgasm when we get home.

My mother plasters a polite smile on her face and rallies in the face of what to anyone else would be certain mortification. “It sounds like your mother and I have something in common then.” Her shoulders relax, and her eyes drift to the other side of the room. With a short wave to someone, she looks back to the table. “If you’d excuse me, duty calls. I look forward to seeing you again, Abi.” Mom turns towards me. “Caden, remember to move around the room and be seen talking with your father.”

I clench my jaw at the not-so-subtle reminder to play the dutiful son. “I will,” I reply tersely.

“No need to be unsociable. Tonight has been a big night for your father. You and Callie need to support him. We all do.” Having delivered her veiled scolding, she nods and walks away.

“How are we even related?” Callie mutters under her breath before leaning towards Abi. “You are my new favorite person.”

“Hey, I thought I was?” I say in mock offense, clutching my chest with my hand melodramatically, earning a snort from the two of them.

“Let me guess—both of your brothers say that? Because all four of mine fight to be my favorite.”

“Cameron doesn’t care if I think he’s my favorite or not—he says it’s just fact.”

“Sounds like my younger brother, Cohen. He plays the baby card all the time.”

“Are the others older?” Callie asks. For some reason, my sister quizzing Abi doesn’t grind my gears one bit.

“Jamie’s thirty-two and is a boat captain. Jaxon and Bryant just turned thirty and are a photographer and assistant professor respectively, and my younger brother, Cohen, is twenty-five and is an EMT.”

“Wow, your parents were keen.”

“They should’ve bought a TV for the bedroom after the twins,” Abi replies matter-of-factly, and Callie’s eyes go wide before all of us burst out laughing.

“Oh I like her, Cade. You should keep her,” Callie says off-hand, and I chuckle.

Abi lets it roll straight off her, like everything else that’s happened tonight, and gives me yet another reason to expend effort later on when we’re alone and naked. “I think it’s more me allowing him to keep me. Can’t make it too easy for them, can we?” she adds with a wink.

“Oh I really like you now,” Callie says before looking up at me. “Can you help me up? I need to go find my husband and make sure he’s not being inducted into the old boys’ club.” I move towards her and gripping her hand and, holding on until she’s standing steady beside me. “Abi, we should have lunch one day. I’ll fill you in on all the things my brothers got up to growing up.”

Abi smiles brightly up at her. “Sounds great. Get my number from Cade.”

“I will do. Goodbye, little brother,” Callie says, leaning up to kiss my cheek. “Hold on to her, Cade,” she whispers in my ear before waving at Abi once more and walking away from us.

“So, father, mother, and sister out of the way—now I just need to meet the other half of you,” Abi says as I sit back down next to her.

‘Cameron’s back in two months. You can meet him then,” I reply, and her lips part before a slow-growing smirk appears.

“Awesome. I can’t