The next morning Valerie got up and threw a bunch of clothes and make-up into a duffle bag. She wasn't even sure if she really should go back to Evelyn's like she said she would. Maybe Jack had just been tired or lonely or both.

She packed anyway, she would make an appearance over to Evelyn's and leave her bag in the car just so she wouldn't be embarrassed if it really had just been a late night offer.

Inside the Mercer household was all Evelyn's sons under one roof. Angel, Jack, Bobby, and Jerry all in one place. Evelyn would have loved it. Sadly, it took her death to bring them all back together.

Even Sofi was there. She was making her way down the stairs when Stef and Valerie walked in. Valerie felt like she was fifteen again. Except this time around there was no coffee cake in the oven and Evelyn wasn't there watching over them.

Though, it did smell good, like something cooking.

"Who's cooking?" Valerie said. She joined the others in the living room. "Smells delicious."

"That would be Jacky," said Bobby. "Cooking us a nice Thanksgiving family dinner."

That peaked her excitement. Jack's cooking always did. Technically, Thanksgiving had been the night before—but nobody could focus on a holiday when where was a funeral. Valerie wasn't going to complain about getting turkey.

She made her way through the house and into the kitchen where Jack was boiling vegetables on the stove.

"Now I'm glad I came back. This is way better than the Kraft Dinner I was going to make."

Jack glanced over. "You're not getting one bite of this."

Valerie folded her arms. "Why not?"

"This is a family thing."

"I'm family," she whined. "Evelyn loved me and we live together for god sakes."

"Maybe I'll save you some left overs if you're nice." He smirked at her.

"Fine," she said with a sigh. "I guess I'll be leaving."

Jack gripped her wrist and twirled her back around to face him. "You can stay. I'm just riling you up."

She smiled up at him.

Footsteps padded into the kitchen. Valerie only tipped her head to get a glimpse of who it was. Bobby stood behind her, clearing his throat.

"Every time I walk in on you two I feel like I'm interrupting," Bobby said roughly. "Stand further apart or something."

Jack did the opposite, pulling Valerie into his chest and wrapping his arms around her neck. "Maybe that's because you are interrupting something, Bobby."

Valerie blushed. She was hyper-aware in that moment that her back was pressed against his hot chest and that his arms around her made her feel comfortable. Bobby's eyes wandered over them: up then down.

"I ain't buying it, Jacky." Bobby shook his head. "Valerie's too much for you."

Jack released her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean Valerie's a real woman. You're just a little boy."

Valerie smirked and quickly glanced up at Jack, who was looking very displeased with Bobby's comment. Not catching on to the fact that it was the reaction Bobby was waiting for.

"You hear that, Jack? You can't handle me." Valerie mocked playfully.

Jack's frown deepened. "You guys don't know what I can handle. I can handle a real woman - I've been with many."

Jack didn't need to tell her that. She knew all about it after sharing a place with him.

"Nah, that's what you don't get," said Bobby. "That's just for a night. You could never keep one, Jacky."

"Shut up, Bobby. Neither could you."

Bobby shrugged, not denying or agreeing with what Jack said, before leaving the kitchen. Valerie let out a laugh—Bobby had accomplished what he wanted swimmingly: to make Jack angry. Jack never realized Bobbys intentions, naive even after all these years, and always let Bobby get to him.

"What are you laughing at?" Jack said gruffly. He wasn't looking at her. He wasn't even near her anymore. Jack was focused on the stove, gone back to stirring various pots.

"You." Jack grunted in response. "You always let him get to you. He's only fooling around, Jack. He's just making you mad for a laugh. It's not real."

"I know that," he huffed out. "I always do. Just after I'm already pissed off."

"You just need to chill out. Have a beer or something."

Jack flung open the fridge, doing as she said and cracking open a can of beer, he tipped back his head and chugged the amber liquid.

"Thanks for the advice."

"No problem." She smiled and backed out of the kitchen.

In the living room, the other boys were fighting over something and Sofi was sitting on the couch, staring at the game on television—seemingly bored now that Angel wasn't focused completely on her.

Sofi brightened up when Valerie walked into the room. "Vally, good to see you! Come, sit!"

Despite living no more than ten minutes from each other, Valerie hadn't seen Sofi much since Angel went away. Every now and again they'd see each other pass by at the mall or grocery store and they'd catch up but that was it. Last Valerie heard Sofi was dating some gangster but Valerie could piece together that ended. Probably as soon as Angel stepped foot on Detroit soil.

She plopped down on the couch next to Sofi, pulling her into a hug. "Always good to see you. You and Angel back on?"

Sofi glanced over at Angel and grinned. "You know I can't stay away from that man."

"I hope he sticks around this time."

They didn't talk much after that. Partly because the Mercer brothers never shut up (they didn't have indoor voices) and partly because Valerie had nothing to say.

Sofi stood up not too much after that, saying she had to work. Valerie offered her a ride. It was snowing harsh out there and it didn't seem like Angel was going to get off his ass.

The Mercer boys had already dug in to their Thanksgiving supper when she returned. Valerie just took up her former spot on the couch. She knew Jack had been joking about only letting her eat the leftovers but it was the first time they had all been together in a long time and she didn't want to intrude on that.

Bobby hollered at her to come take a seat at the table but she ignored him and focused on the Thanksgiving special of some sitcom that was on the television.

It wasn't until she heard the brothers get up that she stepped foot in the kitchen again.

"We were going to go play some hockey," Jack informed her, laying his dishes in the sink. "You wanna join?"

"No, I'd rather not go up against the Michigan Mauler and Co. thanks."

Bobby came from behind and swung an arm over her shoulder. "I've seen you play, you were quite the terror yourself."

"That was then, this is now," Valerie laughed, shrugging off Bobby's arm. "I'm gonna grab a bite to eat since I haven't yet and I'll probably start cleaning up."

Jack shook his head no. "There's no way you're cleaning this shit up, Val. Wait till we get back."

"You guys are going through a lot. Let me help."

"Yeah, let her help, Jacky," Bobby chimed in. "I know it intimidates you when you're not the only woman in the house but—"

"Shut up, Bobby," Jack rolled his eyes. "Your jokes are expired. Val, don't do it all. I'll be back, okay?"

Valerie nodded in agreement though she was going to do it all and more if she could.

Jack gave her one last warning look, letting her know he meant what he said, before running out the door with his skates.

She would love to be on the ice, now just wasn't the right time. It would be like fifth wheeling.

Valerie grabbed a plate and filled it with turkey and everything else Jack and cooked up in content. She planted herself back on the couch to finish the rest of the sitcom when she was satisfied with how much food she had piled up.

The sitcom was stupid and it was eerie to be alone in the Mercer house. But anything was better than Thanksgiving at her Dads. Even if it was a TV dinner alone in her apartment. Thankfully, it was not, and instead was a delicious meal whipped up by the delicious Jack Mercer.

Valerie didn't listen to Jack and cleaned up everything. Something he was quite upset about when he stormed into the kitchen a couple hours later.

"I told you not to!" He said in frustration. "Now I feel like a dick."

"It was no problem. Really."

He continued on talking but Valerie didn't hear a thing. Sweat dripped from his long hair that was mussed up from skating around the rink and matted to his face. He had his black tee shirt thrown off, now only wearing a white undershirt that exposed his lean muscles underneath just enough to capture her attention. For the first time in her life, Valerie was seeing Jack through everybody else's eyes. It was no surprise to her that Jack was attractive, she had always known. But she had never lusted after the guy before. Right now, she was ashamed to say, she was definitely having some lustful thoughts.

"Valerie? Are you listening at all?"

"Nope." She said honestly. "Not at all."

She didn't miss how Jack's lips had now curled up at the edges and how there was now a glint of a amusement in his eyes. "You were checking me out."

Valerie didn't miss a beat. "I was not checking you out."

"You were," his wicked grin made her squirm because she knew she had been caught. "I'm fine with it. I don't know if Cody will be. You drooling over me."

"You're insane," she folded her arms defensively. "And it's Cole. You know that."

"Is it Cole? Thought it was Cody. Doesn't change what I said though. You were checking me out."

Valerie narrowed her gaze on him. "I'm going home."

"Earlier you told me to chill out, now you need to," she didn't like the way Jack laughed at that. "I'm only teasing. Stay. You promised."

"Fine, besides, it doesn't matter what he thinks anyway," Valerie said. They locked eyes. "We broke up."

Jack grinned.

"Shit," he said. "There is a God."