From my car, I try to gauge the number of bodies in my parents’ house through the windows. Ugh, I can’t see shit.

She can’t possibly be at family dinner. My family loves Harper, but they wouldn’t invite her, not after I called my mom the other day, telling her to put her matchmaking skills to rest. She just chuckled but reassured me she knew what she was doing. Whatever the hell that means.

I was very adamant about leaving Harper alone. The Knightlys can be too much at times, and I’m sure we’re the last thing she needs right when she’s trying to settle back into town.

Resigning myself to the inevitable, I retrieve my keys from the ignition and make my way to the front door. Hand on the doorknob, I take a deep breath and walk into the house I grew up in. The warm walls and carefully hung family pictures greet me first, followed by my family’s raucous laughter emanating from the back of the house.

I remove my shoes and hang my suit jacket on the coat hanger by the front door before cautiously making my way down the long hallway to the connected kitchen and large dining room. Ren, Griffin’s girlfriend, is the first to spot me. She gives me a small smile and a little wave. The rest of the family is scattered around the kitchen as usual, getting in my parents’ way as they try to finish up the dinner prep.

Griffin sees me next. “Ah, you finally decided to join us.” He checks his watch. “I think that was eight minutes in the car. Who had eight minutes?”

Reid raises his hand and hops off the counter, grabbing a bowl from the center of the table and pocketing the wad of cash inside. “I know him too well.” Reid pats me on the back and slips me a one-dollar bill. “Here, this is for you. Thanks for taking eight minutes to prepare yourself to come in the house. Daddy is going to buy a new pair of jeans.” He pats his pockets.

Ignoring everyone and their stupid bet, I pop the fridge door open and grab a water. Reid joins me, sticking his head in the fridge so I’m forced to look at him. “Aren’t you going to ask?”

“Ask what?” I grit out.

“If she’s here. I know that’s why you were hanging out in your car, debating if you should come in or not.”

My skin prickles, and I brace myself for the answer as I shut the fridge door. “Is she here?” I hiss.

Slowly, Reid smiles and nods. “Yup, she’s in the bathroom.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I angrily squeeze my water bottle, nearly popping the top off. “Why? Why is she here?”

Reid shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe because she wants to be here.”

“Who invited her? Was it Mom?” I don’t wait for an answer. Instead, I walk over to the culprit, who’s hovering over the stove, stirring a huge pot of chili.

“Oh, hey, sweetie. Cornbread is in the oven, honey is in the crock, and I also got tortilla chips because I know how much you like crumbling them in your chili.”

“Mom, why did you invite her? I told you to leave her alone, to leave us alone.”

“What are you talking about?” My mom looks me up and down and then goes back to the chili.

“Harper. I asked you not to invite Harper.”

The bathroom door opens, and Jen pops out, rubbing her hands together. “Did he come in yet?” Her eyes light up as she spots me. “What time was it?”

“Eight minutes. Reid won.”

Disappointed, she snaps her fingers. “Damn, I for sure thought I was going to win.”

Confused, I turn back to my mom. “Harper isn’t here?”

“No, of course not. I wouldn’t invite her so early. She needs time to settle. What made you think she was here?”

I whip around to find Reid leaning against the kitchen wall, arms crossed and with a giant grin on his face. I point at him. “You better run, because I’m going to fucking kill you.”

Like a bolt of lightning, he takes off, and I chase after him, nothing but pure murder on my mind.

The table has been cleared, the kitchen has been cleaned, and now we sit around the table, slowly picking at a plate of cookies and fudge from the shop. Ren sits on Griffin’s lap, his arms wrapped around her waist while Brig sits on Reid’s lap, replicating the same position. Fucking morons.

Reid is also nursing a good punch to the ribs after I caught him tripping up the stairs. I made sure he remembered exactly who he was fucking with. He might have learned his instigating ways from me, but he will never be able to top the master. He just needed a . . . gentle reminder.

“So I got an interesting email from the mayor today,” Griffin says.

Everyone is sitting around the table, including Jen and her husband, Zach. Their kids are in the basement watching a movie, giving the grown-ups some alone time. Dad is at the head of the table, hands folded over his stomach, dozing in and out, occasionally letting out a low snort only to wake up and add his two cents to the conversation. I don’t know how he does it, sleeping in a chair and able to contribute to the conversation as well.

“Oh, what did he say?” Mom asks as she steeps her tea.

“I haven’t told anyone besides Ren because I’m not allowed to say anything, but it’s some really exciting stuff.”

Reid waves his hand impatiently. “No way can you sit there and say you have exciting news and not say anything about it.”

“He’s right.” I lean back in my chair. “You’re obligated to tell us now.”

“I’m obligated to tell you nothing, especially with the gossip queen in our presence.”

Jen scoffs. “Hey, I rarely—”

Griffin jabs his thumb toward Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. “I’m talking about Brig.”

“He’s right,” Brig says, not even arguing. “I can’t keep a secret to save my life.”

“Well, that’s not our problem.” Mom points to the basement door. “Go hang out with your nieces and nephew while we adults talk about important things.”

“No way! I want to know what the surprise is.”

Reid pushes Brig off him. “He’s not going to tell us if you’re here, dumbass.” Reid gives him another push.

“Wait.” Brig holds up his hands. “I’ll keep this one quiet. I promise.”

“Your promise means nothing to me. Last time you promised to keep a secret, within an hour the gossiping hens were talking about it in the corner store,” Griffin deadpans.

“Dude, you told me Yori Fletcher was proposing to his girlfriend. It was cause for celebration! They were so off and on; no one was sure they were going to be in it for the long run.” Brig clutches his hands to his chest like an idiot. “But now they’re happily married with a baby on the way. I should be praised for spreading the news of their love.”

“You could have ruined the proposal,” Griffin counters.

“But I didn’t,” Brig says, finger in the air. “So, if anything, you should trust the people I tell, because they know how to lock it up.”

Griffin shakes his head. “You either go to the basement, or I don’t tell anyone.”

Heaving a sigh, Brig rolls his eyes and heads toward the basement. “Fine, but just so you know, this does not sit well with me.”

“Noted.”

Once Brig is out of earshot, we all lean forward at the table—well, everyone but Dad, who’s snoring quietly—waiting for the exciting news.

“So the mayor let me in on a little secret, something she wants me to help out with since I run the restoration committee.” Griffin smiles widely. “Lovemark is scouting locations for a few of their Christmas movies for next year, and Port Snow is on the short list.”

“No shit,” Reid says.

“Oh my God!” Jen squeals.

“Oh, that’s so exciting.” My mom claps her hands.

“They would be stupid not to pick us,” my dad says, popping up from a dead sleep.

“I agree,” Griffin says, “but we have to make sure the town is in top shape. With Thanksgiving coming up quickly, the mayor wants to make the switch to Christmas decorations sooner rather than later.”

“That’s going to throw the town for a loop,” I say, knowing damn well any change around here doesn’t go unnoticed.

Griffin nods. “Yeah, I mentioned that, but she was very adamant about presenting Port Snow to Lovemark as the perfect winter wonderland getaway. This would be huge for our economy, plus Lovemark offers a stipend that the mayor would use to beautify the town even more. She mentioned getting those new lampposts we’ve been wanting for Main Street.”

“The old-timey-looking ones?” Jen asks. Griffin nods. “Oh, that would be so cute. Would the Lobster Landing be featured?”

Griffin shrugs. “I have no idea. I think they’re just looking for the perfect small-town feel, which Port Snow has for sure.”

“Oh, those fuckers up in Pottsmouth would be so jealous.” Reid laughs. “They’ve applied for a few movies to film there, but they’re just too damn big.”

“And it’s not even close to being as nice as Port Snow,” I add, turning to Griffin. “So what needs to happen?”