No, I just thought a little social lubrication might help me get through this with my heart only somewhat bruised.Aubrey smiled gamely and handed him the bag so he could take his shoes off. “I need a glass or two to forget it’s not October.”
He was about to ask if Nate needed help setting the table, but then he realized Nate was still waiting by the door. Before he could ask why, the elevator arrived and a young woman stepped out with a small white box. She saw Nate peering out the door and smiled. “Nate Overton?”
“Thank you so much for delivering last minute.” Nate smiled and took the box.
What had Nate forgotten? Had he ordered a replacement for the charcuterie they’d eaten?
“Happy Thanksgiving.”
Was that a hundred-dollar bill?
“No problem.” The girl beamed. “Enjoy your pie!”
Aubrey caught a whiff of warm cinnamon and nutmeg. As he turned back toward the apartment, he briefly met Nate’s eyes.
Nate flushed and turned away, and Aubrey’s face went hot. “Well.” Nate cleared his throat. “Dinner’s on. Let’s eat.”
While Aubrey was upstairs, Nate had moved everything into serving dishes and set the table, including a nice set of lit candlesticks. He’d set out the second bottle of wine Aubrey had brought earlier. If not for his parents’ presence, it would’ve felt like a romantic gesture.
As they sat around the table, Aubrey looked for a cue as to whether they’d be saying grace. Nate had mentioned his parents were not particularly religious, but once they were all settled around the table, Nate’s mom reached out to either side—to Aubrey on one side and Nate on the other—and grasped their hands.
“I know it’s a cliché, but I’d like us to take a moment”—oh no—“and say what we’re thankful for.”
Nate blanched. “Mom,” he protested. “You can’t just spring that on Aubrey when he just met you a couple of days ago.”
“Oh, honestly, Nate. He doesn’t have to say anything aboutyou.” Diane shook her head at him and turned to Aubrey. “You don’t, dear. It’s plain for anyone to see how thankful you are for each other. It would be cheating.”
Aubrey wanted to crawl under the table. “Right,” he croaked.
Fucking help me, he tried to tell Nate with his eyes.
Sorry, every man for himself, he imagined Nate replying.
“Diane,” Elliot broke in, “don’t you think you’re going to scare him off? They’ve only been dating a little while.”
“I walked in on him naked before we were introduced,” Diane said. Nate beat Aubrey to the wine bottle. “If he hasn’t run screaming by now, I think he’ll be fine. Anyway, I’ll go first.”
Thank God for twist-offs, Aubrey thought as Nate filled his glass. He continued filling while his mom spoke.
“This year I am thankful for my health and my family’s health. For my sweet, adorablefirstgrandchild.”
Nate and Aubrey locked eyes. Nate filled his glass three-quarters full and then moved on to the next one.
“I’m thankful for homemade meals.” Nate finished her pour, and she raised her glass. “And store-bought wine.”
Aubrey laughed, grabbing his own, and Diane said, “Your turn, Elliot.”
Elliot gamely took his wineglass from Nate. “Well, I am thankful for my wonderful wife and her sense of humor, and for my son and his exciting second career as a TV personality, and that my daughter and Jurgen have settled in the States where I can keep an eye on them.” Nate had told Aubrey that Emily and her husband used to be with Doctors Without Borders.
Which brought them to Nate.
He cleared his throat. “Okay. I am grateful for… new opportunities.” He didn’t glance at Aubrey, looking instead at a spot in front of Aubrey’s plate. Fair enough. Aubrey wasn’t exactly comfortable being put on the spot like this either. But this had been Nate’s idea.
When it became apparent Nate wasn’t going to continue, everyone turned to Aubrey.
Thank God he was used to performing under pressure. Besides, Aubrey knew the most convincing lies were the ones with a shred of truth. “Second chances,” he said. With his mother, with Jess and the show. If he was lucky, with Nate… though by now that might be a third chance. “And second impressions,” he added after a beat.
Nate groaned, but Diane threw her head back laughing, and Elliot raised his glass.
