Page 90 of One More Chapter
Deb lifts a brow at me, and I hide behind my wine glass.
Dinner is ready by the time the guys are all showered and changed into nice sweaters and jeans. Deb has really outdone herself. Lobster rolls serve as the main dish, with a plethora of sides ranging from sweet potato fries and veggies, to clam chowder and biscuits. I am in heaven.
“What did you boys work on today?” Deb asks as I’m in the middle of digging into my second lobster roll.
“Ask your idiot son,” Grant guffaws, slathering butter onto a roll. When I look to Anthony, he is suddenly as red as our main course.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” he says, staring down at his plate. His gaze flicks to me in desperation as he tugs on his collar. “Just had a few windows to board up.”
“Dummy had six of those half-moon windows and decided—afterdrywalling—that he didn’t want them anymore.”
Oh. Ohthat’swhy he’s blushing.
I ignore the rest of the conversation, now staring down at my plate as I contemplatewhyAnt boarded up those windows. It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that I mentioned I would never want them the other day. Right? Because thatwould mean Ant wanted me to like the house. Andthatwould mean…
When I tune back into the conversation, it’s pretty evident he’s still getting railed. And I hate that. I know they’re just jerking him aroundin brotherly fun, but there has to be a line.
“Did Ant tell you about his promotion?” I interject. They all stop, and Grant and Ian nod.
“Anthony, you got the promotion?” Debbie asks.
“He’s filling in as the assistant principal while our schools are merged, and he’s doing a damn good job of it.” I meet his eyes, and though he still looks torn up—either from his brothers railing him, or the fact that I found out his secret, who knows—his lips lift a fraction in gratitude. “He even brought some behavior management program to the school. It has helped a ton with some of the behaviors we have. He’s the right man for the job. We’re lucky to have him.”
“Good for you, son,” Ed says, clapping him on the back from where Ant sits beside him.
“What does your behavior program entail?” his mom asks.
Before jumping into his spiel, Ant tilts his gaze toward me. The gratitude is a deep well now. All I did was brag about him, but it’s almost like I can see his heart beating in his eyes. Watching him wax poetic about his behavior program fills me with pride. He reallyhasdone so much for our school in just a few short months, and under a serious mountain of pressure at that. It’s what he was meant to do. I wonder if he realizes it?
thirty-four
anthony
I still can’t believeshe did that.
I’ve never had someone stand up for me like that before. Coming from Penelope makes it that much more special. My heart was in my throat, and I’m surprised I was able to swallow it long enough to tell my parents about the changes I’ve made at River Valley in my few months of being there.
I’m watching her wash dishes with my brothers while my dad and I set the table for dessert. She tilts her head back in laughter at something Grant said, then tosses bubbles from the sink in his direction. A pang of envy shoots through me, but then she catches my eye over her shoulder, and the look that lights up her face makes it all go away.
“Whydidwe have to cover those windows, Ant?” he asks, clapping one hand on my shoulder and following my gaze to the redheaded firecracker wearing his wife’s rubber gloves.
“I told you—the ones at Mom’s old place don’t have shades, and they’re a bitch to cover. I don’t want to be woken up by dive-bombing birds or the sunrise without blinds.”
“Heh.”
My dad lets out a big belly laugh and finishes cutting Penelope’s pumpkin pie.
“What now?” I scoff.
He shakes his head and posts both hands on his hips. Ian chooses that moment to appear, a shit eating grin on his face.
“Nice try, but those windows didn’t even face east, lover boy.”
The doorbell rings, saving me from my nightmare. Ian’s face turns beet red and he scampers off to answer. Two minutes later, we’re greeted by a familiar duo.
“Everyone, this is my neighbor Andi, and her son Dominic. They’re new in town and had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving, so I invited them for dessert.”