Page 68 of That Last Secret
Tell me you at least took someone back to your room. Because I sure as hell didn’t.
No…
Oliver
Oh a man of mystery.
Thomas
*eye roll*
Marc
Yup. Hell has frozen over.
Yeah. I guess it has.
November
Aside from thewedding two months ago, today is the first time most of us have been together since Thomas and Peyton’s Fourth of July party.
We’re at Marc and Avery’s penthouse, where they’re hosting their first Thanksgiving as a real couple. The smell of turkey wafts through their place, and my stomach growls.
“Everything smells so good,” I tell Avery as I sit on the kitchen island’s barstool.
“Thanks. I didn’t cook a single thing.” She smiles proudly. “I absolutely paid someone to prepare all of this for us since Kali couldn’t come today to help.”
We all laugh because that’s such an Avery thing to do.
Kali skipped dinner tonight. In our group chat yesterday, she told us it’s been a week from hell for her, and she just wants to sit around the apartment today and sulk.
We tried to convince her to come, but sometimes a girl just needs a day.
“You all laugh, but if I cooked dinner tonight, the building would be up in flames, and the turkey would be burned to a crisp. We all know this,” Avery says with certainty.
“It’s for the best,” Marc adds, popping the cork off a bottle of wine.
“At least we know it’s edible,” Oliver says, sitting beside me.
“You hush.” Avery points the tongs she’s using to mix the salad in his direction. “I didn’t hear you complaining last week when you ate more than half of my apple crisp.”
“Because that apple crisp is the greatest thing I’ve ever had in my life,” Oliver says. “If you didn’t make it for dessert today, I’m leaving now.”
“Bye.” Avery wiggles her fingers in his direction before pointing off to the right. “Door’s that way.”
“She’s got jokes.” Oliver laughs.
“Don’t let her fool you. The apple crisp is already made, and we just have to pop it in the oven after dinner,” Marc says.
“Ha.” Oliver points toward Avery. “I know you wouldn’t let this day go by without making that for us.”
“You two are nuts,” I tell them both before Marc passes me a glass of red wine and I quickly thank him.
“Are you enjoying your short break?” Marc asks.
“I am.” I nod. “I’m taking a break this semester for the first time and haven’t opened any of my books this week. I’m a little nervous I’ll get behind or forget everything.” I force a small laugh. “But I keep telling myself I’m almost done.”
Only some of that is a lie.