Chapter 176: Priya’s Plan

NORA’S POV

"Look who finally decided to return to civilization," Priya said without looking up, tossing a handful of white cheddar popcorn into her mouth. "The champion baker returns."

"Hey," I smiled, dropping my duffel onto the rug beside my desk. "I survived the bus ride."

Priya glanced up, her sharp warm-brown eyes scanning me from head to toe. "I see Knox picked you up. Your hair has that specific post-truck-kiss static."

I felt my cheeks warm, tossing my woolen scarf at her head. "Shut up."

"Never," she grinned, catching the scarf easily. "So? How’s the SinBin? Did the boys burn down the kitchen yet?"

"They’re currently debating the physics of outdoor turkey deep-frying," I said, collapsing onto the opposite end of the futon. "Bear bought forty gallons of oil."

"Lord help that neighborhood," Priya muttered, shaking her head.

I leaned back, resting my head against the cushion. "What are your plans for the long weekend? Are you heading down to Connecticut to see your aunt, or are you staying here?"

Priya’s eyes flickered toward her phone sitting face-down on the coffee table.

For a fraction of a second, she looked surprisingly quiet and a guarded stillness crossed her face. But she quickly put on her usual confident smirk.

"Are you kidding?" Priya scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "I have seventy-two hours of uninterrupted hermit bliss scheduled. I am not moving from this futon. I bought three family-size bags of popcorn, a case of cold brew, and I am going to rot in these exact sweatpants while binging all eight seasons of The Wire."

I furrowed my brow, studying her face. "You’re really staying in the dorm alone for four days?"

"It’s not ’alone,’ Bennett, it’s called peace," Priya insisted smoothly, leaning forward to close her laptop screen halfway. "No outlines. No mock trials. No humans asking me for legal advice. Just me, bad television, and zero responsibilities."

"You could come to Oakhaven," I offered gently. "Mom would love to have you. Knox is coming with me."

Priya froze for half a beat, her eyebrows shooting up. "Knox is coming to Oakhaven?"

"Yeah," I said softly, feeling a quiet flutter in my chest. "He’s spending Thanksgiving with us."

Priya stared at me for three long seconds before a slow, genuine smile spread across her face. "Look at you two. Practically married."

"We are not married," I laughed.

"Whatever you say, Mrs. Sheridan," Priya teased, throwing a popcorn kernel at me. "And no, I am not crashing your romantic small-town holiday. Go play house with your six-foot-three hockey captain. Leave me to my sacred couch-rot."

Her phone buzzed against the wood table.

A sharp, double-vibration.

Priya didn’t immediately reach for it like she usually did when campus group chats blew up.

Instead, she let it vibrate out, her fingers tightening slightly around the rim of her popcorn bowl. A faint shadow of a smirk played at the corner of her lips before she casually reached over and tucked the phone under her thigh.

I tilted my head, catching another subtle waft of that upscale jasmine perfume. It definitely wasn’t her everyday campus body spray.

"Priya... did you buy new perfume?" I asked curiously.

"Aromatherapy, Bennett," Priya fired back without missing a beat, picking up her remote. "Lavender is for peasants. Jasmine stimulates serotonin. Now stop cross-examining me and go call your mother before she calls the National Guard."

I chuckled, shaking my head as I pulled my phone from my coat pocket. "Fine, fine."

I walked over to my desk, kicked off my boots, and dialed the familiar number for Sugar & Spice.

The line rang twice before clicking open to the noisy, rhythmic clatter of metal sheet pans and a humming mixer.

"Sugar and Spice, this is Ellen!" Mom answered in her breathless, energetic baker’s voice.

"Hey, Mom," I said, curling my socks under the desk chair. "Just calling to let you know I made it back to the dorm in one piece."

"Oh, thank goodness, sweetheart!" Mom sighed with audible relief. "The highway cameras looked so slushy on the news. Are you settled in?"

"Just unpacked my bag," I said. Then, I hesitated for a second, rubbing the back of my neck. "Mom... I wanted to ask you something about Thursday."

"What is it, honey?"

"Knox doesn’t really have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving," I explained gently, keeping my tone light. "His family is... busy with corporate events. Would it be okay if he came home with me? We could drive up Thursday morning."

On the other end of the line, Mom let out a joyful gasp that practically rattled the phone speaker.

"Knox? Oh, Nora, of course!" Mom exclaimed, her voice brimming with warmth. "That boy practically moved mountains for us at Emerald Pines! He carried our starter, booked that beautiful suite, and cheered louder than anyone in that ballroom. Tell him I’m baking an entire apple-cranberry crumble just for him!"

A massive weight lifted from my chest. "Thanks, Mom. You’re the best."

"Nonsense. The more the merrier!" Mom laughed cheerfully, the sound of wooden spoons clattering against stainless steel echoing in the background. "And don’t you worry about Knox feeling out of place at all, sweetheart."

"Why would he feel out of place?" I asked, smiling as I leaned back in my chair.

"Well, he won’t be the only athlete at the table!" Mom chirped brightly. "I have a planned surprise."

"Surprise? What surprise, Mom?"

"You’ll see. But let’s just say our other dinner guest plays college hockey too, so the boys will have plenty to talk about!"

The smile froze on my face.

My spine went rigid.

"Mom..." My voice dropped an octave, the words coming out dry and brittle. "What did you just say?"

"I said Knox will have company!" Mom continued happily, completely oblivious. "I have two loaves of sourdough in the hearth, honey, so I have to run. Get some rest tomorrow, and I’ll see you both Thursday mid-morning! Love you!"

Click.

The dial tone hummed in my ear.

The phone slipped an inch in my numb fingers.

The room seemed to drop ten degrees in a split second. The gentle hum of whatever Priya was watching and the soft ticking of the wall clock faded into a dull, roaring silence inside my skull.

College hockey.

In Oakhaven.

There was only one guy from Oakhaven I knew who played college hockey.

Drew Miller.

’Fvck! Did Mom invite Drew Miller to Thanksgiving dinner?’