I just shake my head and walk into the kitchen behind Ma and Emma. This was my favorite place in our house growing up. It’s where we ate dinner together every night. Where we had family meetings, did projects, spent late nights on homework. Where we decorated cookies with Ma every Christmas as we drank hot cocoa and listened to her favorite holiday music. It’s the one place in the house where you’d always find one of us. The table where my dad and my other brothers, Jude and Jameson, are currently sitting is the same table that was here when I was a kid.
“Wow, look what the cat dragged in,” Jude drawls. “Oh, but he brought a friend.” Standing from his chair, he walks over to Emma and offers his hand. “I don’t think we’ve ever officially met. Just kind of… seen each other from a distance. I’m Jude, this shithead’s little brother. Also, the most attractive of all the Pearce brothers… obviously.”
Her brow arches. “Obviously,” she says with humor.
That earns him a slap to the back of the head from me. “Watch it, asshole.”
Emma better think that I am the most attractive Pearce. Though, hell, if you put the four of us together in a line, it’s probably hard to tell us apart. The Pearce genes run strong.
“What? She agrees! I can’t help it if I’m the best-looking.” He shrugs.
Ignoring him, I lace my fingers back in Emma’s to pull her toward me and away from my brother, then walk to my dad and Jameson to make the introductions.
“Hi, Emma.” Dad smiles warmly, shaking her hand.
Jameson’s… being fucking Jameson. He simply gives her a nod.
It has nothing to do with her and everything to do with the fact that he’s a grumpy fuck, but I narrow my gaze at him anyway, warning him to behave.
“Emma, honey, wanna help me with these meat pies?” Ma asks from the kitchen island.
“Yes, of course.” She squeezes my hand lightly, then lets go and walks across the kitchen to where my mom is working on finishing supper.
Josie walks through the door at the same time I pull out a chair at the kitchen table and sit next to Dad. I watch as she introduces herself, and then they start talking about Emma’s sweater, which quickly shifts into talking about holiday decor.
“I totally knew you were an interior designer. I’m so excited you love Pottery Barn as much as I do! I feel like their Christmas decorations are so nostalgic. They take me back to when I was a kid,” Josie says, dreamily sighing.
Emma nods. “Yes! I love the classic look. Wait, please tell me you’re a fan of their classic knit?”
“Duh!” Josie responds excitedly, and that’s where I zone out because I have no idea what the fuck “classic knit” is. But I’m relieved that the conversation between them seems easy, like they’ve been friends all their life, not like we’re two families who have spent years feuding.
A stupid feud if you ask me. Especially now that I know Emma like I do.
“You sure you know what you’re doing, brother? A Worthington of all people?” Jude says quietly, nodding at Emma.
For a second, I’m silent as I think of what to say, my jaw working in the process. I hate the way he even says her last name like an insult. Part of me wants to tell him to fuck off, even if he is my brother, but then I remember… this is how it’s always been for our families, the feud drawing a line clear down the center of our town with us on one side and them on the other. And they haven’t gotten to know her how I have yet. Truth is, we’ve barely ever even talked to the Worthingtons, so how could they really know her?
“Yeah, I do,” I say simply. Because that’s the thing—as close as I am to my family, I don’t owe them or anyone an explanation about what’s happening between Emma and me. Whatever we decide, whatever happens between us, is just that—between us.
“She’s nothing like I thought. You know, I’ve spent my entire life judging her based on the stupid feud between our families, thinking that I knew exactly who she was. And I was dead fucking wrong, Jude. She’s smart and passionate. Ambitious. Fun. She makes me laugh. She gives me shit just as hard as I give it to her. Matches me toe to toe.”
Jude nods as his shoulder dips. “Maybe we have misjudged her, but honestly, can you blame us? Look at the shit her family has done over the years. It’s hard to just… forget all that.”
“And the shit we’ve done? Look, I’m not asking everyone to forget what’s happened. I’m asking my family to understand that I see this girl, and I need y’all to give her a chance. To try to see what I see. And to recognize that neither of our families are innocent in this. I know that you’re defensive because we’re protective of Ma—I get it. But Emma deserves to be seen for who she really is and not just what this feud has made her seem like.”
I can see the mistrust shining in his eyes as he sits silently. Jude’s always been the fiercely protective brother, even being the youngest, so I knew he’d have something to say about me bringing Emma home.
“I might not trust her… yet. But I trust you. Trust your judgment. If you know what you’re doing, then I trust that. I’ll give her a chance.”
I nod. “That’s all I ask.”
Jude nods, and the conversation shifts, Dad asking about the upcoming projects we’ve got scheduled for the new year, and I go back to watching Emma interacting with Ma and Josie, unable to keep the smile off my face. Ma is showing them how she makes my favorite dessert, peanut butter balls, and she’s watching intently while Josie keeps sneaking bites of peanut butter when no one is looking.
When she realizes she’s been caught, she winks, shoveling another chocolate-covered ball into her mouth.
I somehow drag my gaze away and try to refocus on the conversation with Dad and Jude until Emma joins me at the table with a casserole dish, followed by Ma, Jensen, and Josie.
It feels like it always does, coming home.
Chaotic, but also full of happiness and love. In everything we do.
Except this time, I’ve got Emma with me. I wondered what it would be like having her here with my family, and all I can think about is how much I love it.
I know that sounds crazy, but things are changing between us. She’s letting down her walls, letting me in, and now that I know her, I can never go back to how things were before this. It’s impossible, not when she’s shown me who she really is.
Everyone makes a plate, and we talk about our days, what’s been happening with everybody since last dinner, and, of course, the party comes up.
“So, how’s the party planning going?” Josie asks, her brown eyes dancing with amusement. “You two are the only thing the town’s been talking about.”
Emma slants her gaze at me, then clears her throat and looks back at Josie. “It’s going really well. We’re making good progress, and I think everything will go as planned. Well, hopefully.”
“It will,” I say, reaching next to me beneath the table to squeeze her hand. “Emma’s amazing at all of this. She’s the one who’s planned everything and has made sure it’s gone smoothly so far. I’m just the muscles behind the show.”
Jensen chuckles. “Yeah, well, you two managing to get our families together under one roof for the first time probably ever is the equivalent of hell freezing over, so…”
My gaze narrows, and he shrugs. “What? It’s true. You can’t expect us to pretend like the feud doesn’t exist simply because you’re bringing the enemy home. You know how snobby they’ve been to us.”