“I like to think so. I think you’d really like them.”
My eyebrow pops up, and Zeke rolls his eyes.
“Alright, before you read into it, I don’t mean I’m going to bring you to my house and introduce you to all of my friends. I just think you’d get along really well because you’re also a good person, Avalon.”
I bite my lower lip, my cheeks heating up, but I shake off the feeling. “You’re right. Iama good person. Don’t know why we all put up with you.”
“I guess I’m just lucky.” He pops the lids off the containers. “Everything should be warm. I heated it up before I went down to see my mom, but these containers are crazy good at keeping things hot.”
“Looks good.”
“Hopefully, you like everything, but don’t feel bad if you don’t like stuffing or cranberry sauce. I promise I won’t judge you for not eating something.” He grabs a couple plates from the cabinet next to the stove. “Do you like stuffing? Do you want a little bit of everything? Or are you just a turkey and mashed potatoes girl?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“What?”
“I’ve never had any of it.” I shrug. “I’ve never done a proper Thanksgiving meal.”
“Never?”
“No.” I laugh. “When I was little, we always ordered Chinese food. It was just easier.”
“We can order Chinese if you’d rather have that.” He starts to close the containers.
“No,” I argue. “I miss getting Chinese food, sure, but I’m not gonna give up the opportunity to have arealThanksgiving dinner.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it arealThanksgiving dinner. I think it varies depending on your family. This is just how we do it.”
“Then I’m interested to see how the hockey guys do it.” He laughs, scooping out a bit of everything on a plate for me to try.
“Here.” He hands me a plate, and I study my choices.
I take a bite of the mashed potatoes because they’re safe.
“Holy shit,” I groan. “These are the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had.”
“They’re Brin’s specialty. She has like a million different mashed potato recipes.”
“I like this, Brin,” I mumble through a mouth full of mashed potatoes. “She’s the blonde one?” I swallow. “The one dating Jaxon?”
Zeke laughs.
“Brinley and Jaxon aren’t dating.” He scoops some mashed potatoes for himself. “Brinley is Declan’s little sister.”
“Ah,” I nod, “so she’s off limits. Does he know that? They seemed awfully cozy at the first party of the season.”
“They’ve always been like that. Jaxon’s a flirt, and Brinley, well, unfortunately, Brinley’s always wished for something more.”
“They spend a lot of time together for people that are just friends. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them running on campus together.”
“They don’t hang out that often anymore,” he says, shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth. “I don’t know why; I think it’s because Brin’s dating this guy.”
“Blonde guy?”
“Yeah,” he hesitates, “why do you know so much about my friends.”
I chuckle and then take a bite of turkey, “I saw her with him at the Halloween party. I was confused, but he was wearing a hockey jersey, so I assumed he was one of the million hockey players living in your house.”