“Ugh, how many dishes are there?” Raia mutters, rinsing another plate.
She passes it to me, and I dry it. “You’re lucky I love you, Raia Callaway.”
“What? You wouldn’t do cleanup duty for anyone?” she jokes.
“Just you,” I admit. “You know, cleanup duty isn’t a terrible punishment considering how many people we lied to.”
“I guess,” she admits.
“It’s not that you lied,” Dad counters, entering the kitchen. “It’s that you lied to me.” He gives Raia a look. “I mean, you told your mother and Avery the truth before me. I thought I was your favorite, kid.”
Raia chuckles and walks across the kitchen to kiss her father’s cheek. He wraps her in a hug and holds her close. “You are,” she admits.
“Yeah, yeah. That silverware better sparkle,” he jokes. “Your mother and I are heading to the Campbells for a nightcap.”
I raise a surprised eyebrow, and Raia sputters.
Mr. C laughs heartily, happy to catch us off guard. “See? I can keep y’all on your toes too. Have a good night, kids.”
Mrs. C beams from the kitchen entrance. She points to the island where a pastry box sits. “There’s another pumpkin pie for you guys. Enjoy!”
Then, she and Mr. C head out for drinks at my parents’ house.
“Weird.” I shake my head.
“The good news is they’re clearly happy about our relationship,” Raia points out.
“True,” I agree. “We’ll never have to go through that awkward meet-the-parents phase.”
“Today was awkward enough,” Raia admits.
“Man, your dad was hilarious.”
“You should’ve seen him before you came.”
“Oh, I heard him put Brooks in his place. He deserved it.”
“Yeah. He did. And Uncle Jim came down on Brooks too,” Raia admits.
“See? There are more people in your corner than you realized.”
“That’s my fault,” she admits. “I was so busy comparing myself to Avery, I didn’t realize I was the only person doing that.”
I wrap an arm around her shoulders and kiss her head. “It’s good to have you home, champ.”
“Yeah. I’m happy to be here, too.”
I stack the final plate. “And I know we have a lot to figure out. But, if you play in Spain, I can come for a few months after the season. We can make this work.”
Raia bites her bottom lip and stares at me.
“What?” I ask, a bundle of nerves forming in the center of my chest.
“I just found out last night,” she says slowly.
“Found out what?” I cut in.
Raia grins. “I was offered a starting position with Chicago for next season.” She squeals and catapults herself into my arms. “Can you believe it?”
“What?” I sputter. “Seriously? Hell yeah, I can believe it!” I hold her close and kiss her temple. “You earned that, baby. I’m so damn proud of you.”
She pulls back and smiles. “I can’t believe it! I never thought it would happen.”
“Playing professional soccer?”
“Yeah. It’s been my dream for so long. I move to Chicago in January.”
“I can’t wait to watch you play. I’ll be at every game I can make,” I promise. “But, Rai, are you sure you don’t want Europe?”
Slowly, she shakes her head. “Not anymore. The end goal was always to play in the States.”
“After Europe,” I remind her.
“Goals change. Dreams evolve.” She laces her fingers with mine and gives a squeeze. “Now, everything I want is right here.”
I kiss her lightly. “You want to get out of here?”
“And go back to your condo, where none of our parents will show up? Yes, please.”
I chuckle. Raia swipes the pie off the kitchen island and turns off the lights.
“We’re taking the pie?”
“We’ll need nourishment afterwards…” She shakes her ass.
“Oh, you want to go all in tonight?” I tease.
“It’s been too long, Cohen,” she gives it right back. “I have needs, you know?”
“Yeah, champ. And I plan to take care of every single one of them.”
Raia wags her eyebrows. “I’m counting on it. Let’s go.”
I follow her out of her house, and we drive to my condo, our conversation comfortable and natural. It’s as if the past few days never happened.
Raia and I are in sync. We leaped together, in unison.
When we arrive at my place, we discard the pie on my kitchen table and beeline for my bedroom.
“I missed this.” Raia holds her arms over her head so I can peel off her sweater.
“Missed you,” I reply, dropping my mouth to the side of her neck.
“This is the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had,” she whispers, her hands on the waistband of my jeans.
“Yeah,” I agree. I tug on her ponytail until her face meets mine. I stare into her beautiful gray eyes and press a deep, soulful kiss to her lips. “I’m thankful for you, Raia.”
“Me too, Cohen. I love you.”
I grin. “Say it again.”
She pushes my jeans down my legs, and I kick them off.
“I love you so damn much, Cohen Campbell,” she pants, seductively untying her skirt and discarding it. “Now make me come.”
I laugh and lift her, my hands palming her ass. “How many times?”
She chuckles as we drop into the center of my bed. “Three.”
“You can do better,” I chide.
“Four? No way.”
“I like a challenge, champ.” I unhook her bra and drag my hand over her creamy, perky breasts.
“Tell me about it.” She points at herself.
“That’s why we’re such a great couple. We’ll never tire of one-upping each other.”
Raia snorts and wraps her legs around my waist, dragging me over her frame. “I love having you as my boyfriend, Cohen.”
“Good. ‘Cause I’m gonna show you just how much I love being your man, Rai.” I kiss her hard. Then, I get to work.
And yeah, we make it to number four.
Thankful, grateful, and sated, I fall asleep with Raia Callaway in my arms.
Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.