Mom was running around the house like a damn chicken with its head cut off.

I wasn't even sure she slept when she got off work this morning. The coffee pot — that was filling up for the second time since I woke up two hours ago — told me that was probably the case.

I never understood why she loved hosting, when it seemed like all it did was stress her out. She'd already cleaned the baseboards twice.

Did people even pay attention to the baseboards? Nevertheless, they were spotless.

I was standing in the living room, trying to find something to keep me from checking my phone for the nonexistent texts from Kallie, when Mom suddenly flew past me, yelling something about her pecan pie.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I yelled after her.

"Tell Jackson I need him in the kitchen!" She ordered, followed by the sounds of clanking metal. "You can dust the ceiling fans."

The ceiling fans? Really?

"You sure I can't help in here?" I asked as I stepped into the kitchen.

I always helped in the kitchen; taste testing gave me a good excuse for not being able to eat much later.

Mom turned to me with floral oven mitts covering her hands and smiled sympathetically.

"Thank you, baby. You always do a great job helping, but your grandmother said the dressing was bland last year, so I was hoping to get Jackson's input."

Wow. Choosing him over your own daughter? I see how it is, Mother.

I hope the dressing sucks.

After watching her move around the kitchen frantically for a few more seconds, I sighed and made my way upstairs.

I stood in front of Jackson's door with my fist in the air, ready to knock, but hesitated.

He hadn't said a word to me since yesterday evening.

Do you want to get better?

That stupid question had been replaying in my head all night — so much, I only managed to get about three hours of sleep.

I'd never felt so guilty about my habits as much as I did during that ride home last night. He tried his best to keep his face neutral, but I didn't miss the hint of worry in his eyes.

It made me start to second guess his intentions.

But how could he hold and comfort me, then give me the silent treatment just a couple hours later?

I don't think I'd ever be able to understand how his mind works, and I hated that I actually wanted to now.

I finally managed to knock on his door when I heard the staged laughter coming from the tv on the other side, waiting a few seconds. Nothing.

I knocked again, putting more force behind it, and heard shuffling this time.

A few moments later, Jackson opened the door and my eyes went straight to his hair. It was a lot messier than usual — definitely bed head.

I crossed my arms when my hands itched to run through it, and took the rest of him in. His t-shirt was wrinkled and twisted, with one side tucked into a pair of red basketball shorts — which made me wonder if that meant he just put them on before opening the door.

"Were you still asleep?" I asked before biting the inside of my cheek, pushing away my increasingly embarrassing thoughts.

He gave me a curt nod, rubbing one of his eyes adorably.

Adorably? I need help.

"It's past noon," I deadpanned.

"And?" He asked, leaning against the doorframe, cocking an eyebrow.

"Nothing," I mumbled before I heard a familiar theme song behind him. "Are you watching Friends?"

Why am I trying to start a conversation like a freaking feening addict?

"Did you need something?" Jackson asked in an annoyed tone, ignoring my question.

Ouch. I guess we really are acting like yesterday didn't happen.

"No," I said a little too quickly. "Wait, yes! Well, not me, Mom — wants you in the kitchen."

The corner of his mouth twitched, and then before I knew what was happening, I was staring at the closed door once again.

Asshole.

I scoffed, resisting the urge to kick the door before walking to my own room.

Sighing, I pulled out my phone to text Kallie, despite all the other texts that had yet to be opened by her.

Me: Come to dinner. Who's gonna help me keep count during El and dad's deviled egg eating contest?

I stared at the message, waiting for delivered to change to read, but it didn't. Just like the rest.

Me: with how many mom made, this might just be the year El vomits. You don't want to miss that do you?

That was our silly family tradition. While Mom and Grandma cleaned the kitchen, we would go out back, where Dad and Elliott stuffed their faces as fast as they could — after already eating dinner. It was sickening to watch, but entertaining nonetheless.

Elliott beat his record last year, and we swore he was going to hurl, but he never did. If he tried to beat it this year though, he definitely would.

It wouldn't be the same without Kallie cheering Elliott on, secretly hoping he'd spew so she could get it on camera.

I huffed and threw my phone on my bed, more force behind it than I intended, and I held my breath as it bounced dangerously close to the edge.

With everything going on, cracking my phone would most definitely be my breaking point today.

I sighed in relief when it stopped just before it toppled over, and turned to walk out of the room.

Just as I was stepping through the door, I heard the clatter as my phone hit the hardwood, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Nope. Not even gonna turn around," I mumbled to myself before heading downstairs.

"It's good, but could definitely use some more sage," I heard Jackson say thoughtfully as I walked into the kitchen.

Kallie has plenty of sage. I could ask her to bring some.

Oh wait, she won't answer.

I don't think that's the sage we're looking for here, anyways.

Mom smiled when she noticed me, walking over to the spice cabinet.

"I could've told you that," I spoke up.

No I couldn't. I don't even know what sage tastes like.

Jackson turned and gave me a small smirk. He was still in the same clothes, but his hair was now tamed and damp; liked it better messy.

"When is everyone getting here?" I asked as I sat on one of the barstools.

"Your grandma should be here in an hour. Aunt Janine said she'd be here with Jeremiah and Evelyn around three or four. Can you tell your father and Elliott to hurry up and get the table from the attic?"

"Is that all I'm good for? Running around and telling everyone else what to do?" I scowled at Mom and Jackson chuckled.

"And the ceiling fans!" She piped up, pointing a spoon in my direction. "Don't forget those."

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, getting up to search for Mom's other slaves.

I looked up at the fan in the living room as I walked through. It seemed fine to me.

It was pretty warm outside today, so my anxiety shot through the roof when Mom informed me we would be eating outside this year.

I would get pretty weird looks if I were to wear a hoodie and pants, surrounded by people in t-shirts and shorts.

I hate living in the south. It's freaking November for crying out loud.

I settled on a pair of boyfriend jeans and a loose, long sleeve sheer top. Enough to cover me, but breezy enough to not be questioned.

My phone dinged from the floor once I finished getting dressed, and I all but dove for it, hoping to finally see a response from Kallie.

There was a tiny crack on the top left corner, but other than that, the phone seemed to be in good shape.

Jesse: is there anything I need to bring? I'm gonna smack that volatile man of yours for waiting until last min to invite us

Volatile man of mine?

Volatile could only be describing Jackson, but mine? Ha!

Me: you're coming? Who's us? And he's not my man

Jesse: coulda fooled me lol just me Jody and Sam

I rolled my eyes, but decided not to comment on her remark.

Me: bring wine if ya want it. No liquor or anything tho

I hoped my parents wouldn't freak out when they found out I was hanging out with twenty-something year olds.

Mom did say Jackson could invite whoever he wanted. But why would he invite Jesse and Jody? Sam I could understand, but he literally just learned the other two's names.

Jesse: oh no no no I never wanna be around your man and liquor at the same time EVER AGAIN. See ya soon!

Me: STOP CALLING HIM MY MAN

Jesse: please. You love it

Kallie wasn't here to tease me, but it seemed like Jesse was going to do a pretty fine job.

She wasn't completely wrong though, I didn't hate the sound of it, but no.

I heard voices downstairs, but decided to torture myself one more time before heading back down, and opened my messages to Kallie.

Read 2:46pm

That was just a couple minutes ago.

This is killing me.

Actually opening the messages was a start though, right?

Or she's opening it to show she's ignoring me.

I sighed in defeat, making sure the volume on my phone was turned up before I put it in my pocket, and headed downstairs.

Mom was at the bottom of the stairs, laughing at something Grandma said, until she spoke again.

"Debbie, when's the last time you cleaned that ceiling fan? My sinuses are 'bout to close up just lookin' at the damn thing."

Uh oh.

I hadn't been spotted yet, and contemplated creeping back up the stairs before Mom turned toward me.

Jeez. If looks could kill.

"Brylee," Mom sighed in disappointment as I joined them.

"Sorry, I got distracted. I'll do it," I told her before giving my grandma an one armed hug. "You look good, Grandma! You could pass for Mom's sister with those highlights."

"I just got it done the other day," Grandma said excitedly, running her fingers through her heavily highlighted grey shoulder-length hair. "I was unsure about it, but you just made up my mind!"

"When's the last time you ate, girl? I could turn you sideways and you'd disappear!" Grandma spoke again after she gave me a good squeeze, looking me up and down, and I froze.

"You can blame the Faulkner genes for that," Mom waved it off before I could come up with a response, gesturing to her own petite body. "She's got our fast metabolism."

Fast metabolism. Why haven't I used that excuse before?

"Who's this handsome fella? I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Brylee!" Grandma exclaimed after looking behind me.

I turned around and saw Jackson walking from the kitchen, sending a charming smile our way.

He'd changed clothes at some point, now wearing a pair of khaki shorts, and a black, short sleeve button-up.

His hair was messy again, probably from running his hands through it as it dried — just how I liked it.

"That's the kids' friend, Jackson. I told you he was staying with us," Mom reminded her.

Grandma grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to loudly whisper in my ear. "You better snatch that one up quick, honey."

My face heated up as I straightened, and Jackson stepped up next to me, holding back a laugh.

Thanks, Grandma.

"Let's go check on the food," Mom chuckled as she put a hand on Grandma's shoulder, leading her to the kitchen.

"The dressing still needs a couple more minutes, but I put the rolls in the oven with it," Jackson called out after them.

Suck up.

"You're an angel!" Mom called from the doorway, and Grandma looked at us over her shoulder.

"Remember what I said, Brylee," she winked before disappearing into the kitchen, making a laugh slip through Jackson's lips this time.

"She's fun," he said gleefully.

"She's something alright," I mumbled, refusing to look at him.

Before Jackson could say anything else, Elliott came bounding down the stairs, ruffling his damp hair — I could smell him before he even got to us.

I let out a dramatic gag, putting a hand to my throat. "Jesus El, did you bathe in cologne?"

"Is it that bad?" Elliott pulled his shirt away from his chest and sniffed it.

"You know that part in Spongebob, where they have to run through the mall people spraying perfume? You smell exactly like I always imagined that scene," Jackson said, pretending to choke on the air and I lost it.

"You guys are assholes," Elliott complained, glaring between Jackson and I. When we continued to laugh, he turned around and stomped back up the stairs — hopefully to take another shower.

"That was perfect," I chuckled, fanning the air in front of me, but my laughter slowly faded when I turned to see Jackson smiling widely at me.

He could be an ass all day long, but as soon as he smiled at me, all was forgotten. And I was putty in his hands again.

This is unfair. I hate him.

No I don't, but I want to.

For my own sanity, I need to.

My feet were glued to the floor when the doorbell rang, and Jackson's eyes flicked over to the door then back to me.

"You gonna get that?" He asked, giving me an amused look.

"I should get that," I said sheepishly, pointing at the door before walking toward it.

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" My cousin, Evelyn sang when I opened the door, balancing a covered tray in one hand, and holding up a bottle of wine in the other.

"You too — and happy belated birthday," I told her, taking the tray from her then smiling at her older brother. "Where's Aunt Janine?"

"On the phone," Jeremiah said, pointing his thumb behind him before walking past me.

Always such a talker.

"Oh, and this is —" I stopped when I turned around, realizing Jackson was no longer there.

"Um, the living room," I finished with a small frown.

"I know, I've been here before. Many times, actually," Evelyn gave me a strange look before sitting the wine bottle down on the entryway table, and reaching into her purse. "Since I'm freshly twenty-one, Mom put me in charge of getting the wine, but I got us a little something too."

I looked down at the pint of vodka she'd pulled halfway out for me to see, and laughed.

"I'm not getting plastered in front of my parents, but by all means," I waved a hand in her direction, "go for it."

She pushed her dirty blonde hair behind her ear and gave me a mischievous grin.

"We —"

"Evie!" Elliott yelled out, interrupting her as he came from behind me to hug her. He'd changed into a navy blue polo shirt, making the smell of cologne a little less potent.

"Ellie," she whined when they parted, pouting slightly.

Oh no.

Nothing good came after one of Evelyn's infamous pouts.

"You'll drink with me, right? I don't wanna do it alone — that's lame."

"Hell yeah!" Elliott said enthusiastically, high fiving her.

"Elliott!" I pushed his shoulder lightly.

"What?" He shoved me back with a little more force. "Don't act like you didn't drink all the wine last year."

"Yeah, I know," he continued when I widened my eyes. "You're lucky you guys are already weird enough sober, so no one noticed how giggly you two were. Speaking of, when is she getting here?"

I raised my brows at his terrible attempt at trying to act casual.

"She's sick," I lied with a frown.

"Aww, Kallie isn't coming?" Evelyn chimed in.

Evelyn and Kallie had pretty similar personalities, so they clicked instantly when Kallie started coming to family gatherings.

The only difference between the two was, Evelyn's 'spiritual awakening' was when she lost her virginity.

"Oh," Elliot furrowed his eyebrows before looking at Evelyn. "Where's Jeremiah?"

"Probably in the kitchen trying to get into the food," Evelyn rolled her pale blue eyes.

Elliott nodded and walked toward the kitchen, just as the door opened behind us.

"Sorry, I had to take a work call. Hi sweetie," Aunt Janine patted my back when she walked in, opening the door wider. "You have some friends here too."

Standing on the porch, Jesse was smiling widely with her hands behind her back — a tired looking Jody on one side of her, and an ecstatic looking Sam on the other.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" Jesse and Sam greeted in unison and Jesse revealed her hands, a bottle of wine in each one.

Well damn. I think there might be more alcohol here than food.