“Movie or show?” I ask.
“Depends on when you need to leave.”
She’s in no rush to kick me out? Sweet.
“Movie. Emperor’s New Groove.” I shudder. “I had a dream about Yzma last night.”
“That’s hot.” Mallory tosses a blanket onto my cat-occupied lap, which sends Winry to the ground and prancing out of the living room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as the opening credits begin. I assume it’s Cade asking me about dinner plans, but my peaceful afternoon shatters when I read the message waiting for me.
Mom
Nationals celebration in two weeks. Saturday at 6. Are you bringing Cade?
I somehow forgot that even though my parents won’t celebratewithme, they’ll always use the success of their children to further the superiority of the Gray family. When Keaton graduated from business school, they celebrated with a massive party. When Karla graduated and was accepted into a prestigious master’s program, she got the same treatment.
This celebration will be no different. They’ll brag and pretend we’re a loving family for two to three hours, and the moment the last guest leaves, they’ll go back to being poor excuses for parents.
“Hello!” The movie pauses. “You’re missing the best part, albeit every part is the best part. Do you need to take care of something?”
“No, I’m good.” I lock my phone and sigh. “Sorry, Ed. My mom texted and told me there’s a mandatory family thing I have to attend.”
“Gross. What for?”
“Apparently they want to celebrate my win.” Even though they didn’t come watch.
Mallory crosses her arms. “So, my pizza party wasn’t good enough for you? Ouch.”
The phony hurt in her voice makes me feel a little better. “Nothing will ever top homemade pizza and running away from a security guard. That’s a night I’ll never forget.” Suddenly feeling overheated, I push the quilt off my legs. “It’s not really a party for me. It’s for my parents. They’ll invite all their friends and coworkers and spend the whole time telling everyone how proud of me they are, when the truth is they couldn’t care less about swimming.”
Or me.
“Double ouch.” Mallory sucks in a sharp breath. “Why would they even call that a party? It sounds like hell.”
“Hell is the perfect way to describe it, which is why I usually take Cade to these things. He’s good with people and boring conversations, but he’s got a meeting with an agent.”
“That’s two Saturdays from now,” she says, because of course she knows Cade’s schedule too. “I’ve got an idea. What if I go as your buffer in place of Cade?”
“Okay, enough with the jokes, Eddie.”
Mallory crosses her legs beneath her and faces me. “I’m not joking or pranking you. This is a real offer. You don’t go alone, and I get to people watch and eat free hors d’oeuvres. Win win.”
I inch toward her. “No. That’s not a win win. It won’t be fun for you.”
“Will Nan and Karla be there?”
“Yes,” I answer. I’m sure her mind was made up already, so this is just icing on the cake.
“Great, then it’s settled.” A carrot magically appears, and it crunches loudly between her teeth. “Growing up, my parents were my only family, so I never got to experience a big family dinner. Based on television, I’m expecting a few wine glasses to be thrown and at least one arrest.”
I almost laugh, but the fear of bringing Mallory into my mess of a family is too much. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Let me,” she pleads. “This party should be to celebrate you and your accomplishments. You’re not supposed to hide in the corner feeling suffocated, so it’s decided. I’ll postpone my Saturday pad Thai for an awkward dinner party with the Grays.”
I scoot closer until there’s half a cushion between us. “My parents aren’t good people, and I don’t want to drag you into that. Nothing good comes from them.”
She tilts her head to the side. “What do you mean nothing good comes from them? You did, and I think you’re pretty great, Kenneth.”
