Page 82 of Forever Enough
After I’d met everyone else, Stella and Ty Senior walked over, each giving me a hug.
“There will be a quiz later this evening,” Lincoln said as she walked up and took my hands in hers. She gave me a once-over and beamed with happiness. “You are stunning.” Turning to Bradly, she asked, “How did you get so lucky to find this woman?”
He grinned. “Christmas wish come true.”
My stomach fluttered at his sweet words.
“I hope you like lasagna,” Lincoln said, turning back to me.
“I love it.”
“I should tell you, Aunt Lincoln, Mackenzie’s grandmother was Italian.”
“Really? Do you have any recipes from her?”
“Just her gravy recipe.”
Bradly laughed. “By gravy, she means her marinara sauce.”
“Oh my goodness!” Lincoln stated with a hopeful smile. “Would you be willing to share it?”
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll come over sometime and help you make it.”
Squeezing my hands, Lincoln replied, “I would love that. We should have all the girls over and learn the proper way to make…gravy.”
I laughed. “I think that sounds like an amazing plan.”
Leaning in, Lincoln added, “And I want to apologize now for anything that may happen during game night.”
I glanced between her and Bradly. “What in the world happens during these game nights? You’re the third person to warn me.”
With a sheepish grin, she gave a one-shoulder shrug. “We Shaws are a bit competitive. So if it’s women against men,” her smile faded and her eyes gleamed, “you’ll be expected to crush them at all costs.”
When I opened my mouth to attempt a response, her smile was back.
“Okay! Well, mingle around and get to know everyone!”
Lincoln walked off, and I turned to Bradly. “That plan of yours to sneak out? I really think we should do that before game night.”
He looked around the room covertly. “We could try, but they’re a clever bunch. They’ll catch on. Unless…”
“What? Unless what?”
“You claim you’re sick from eating the lasagna.”
I gasped. “I would never!”
He shrugged. “Then game night it is.”
Before I had a chance to even think about it anymore, Avery whisked me away to chat with the girls.
Dinner was amazing. The conversations were all over the place, and at one point I nearly laughed at all the arguing between everyone. The love could be felt so easily, and I found myself envious of the family dynamic. That was something Emily and I never had, and to see what we missed out on was heartbreaking. I knew Emily had it now with Doug’s family, so that eased the ache in my chest slightly.
Georgiana was so sweet and talked to me a little bit about how Blayze still rode bulls every now and then for charity-type events. She shared her worry that her two boys would grow up and want to ride bulls. I thought it was terribly kind that she was attempting to ease my mind about Bradly’s career. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift back to his statement about leaving professional bull riding.
Once dinner was over and everything was cleaned up, which apparently was the men’s job, the energy in the house changed. Charged with an excitement that even I started to fall under.
“This evening’s games were picked by Joshua and Nathan, as well as Dirk. Although some thought Dirk’s should be excluded, he won out, so I apologize to anyone new to game night,” Lincoln stated, with a pointed look in my direction, as groaned and displeased words filled the room. My gaze snapped to Dirk, and he simply shrugged and laughed.