Chastised, he sits back.
For a moment, I think that’ll be all, and I’m preparing to say something — possibly announce a move back to London at this rate — but then Sally bursts out with “I slept with your husband,” which has every head turning.
There’s barely enough time to wonderwhoandwhatbefore Aunt J laughs. “I already knew that, Sal. Neither of you were subtle.”
Sally covers her eyes with one hand. “God, he was terrible in the sack.”
“He really was, and so bony,” Judy muses, and Christ, half her glass is empty already.
Sally nods. “Wasn’t he just? It was like fucking a stick figure,” she says, causing them both to raise their glasses in a toast to shitty ex-husbands. Darcy and I share a silentwhat the fuck?across the table.
Then Joe leans forward, because sure, why not? This circus is officially out of control. Let’s just add my ninety-year-old great-uncle to the mix. He’s even smiling, for Christ’s sake. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile in over a decade. I’m not sure what to do with myself. “You know, Art and I went to a sex club once. It wasn’t bad. A tall man in a gimp mask brought me water and let me use him as a footstool. Do you remember that, honey?”
Art nods. “I do.”
“Oh, fucking Christ. Not you too.” Reed groans, the first words he’s said since Kyle stood up, and beside him, Darcy is slipping off her chair, wheezing. Reed takes one look at her and finally cracks a smile.
I have no clue what is happening, but thank fuck I’m sitting down.
“That’s it?” Kyle asks, leaning on the table more as he teeters on his good leg. “You’re all just going to act like this isn’t a disgusting insult to our family name?”
“Oh, put a pin in it, Kyle,” Mum says. “You could stand to be half the man Lincoln is.”
Ivy’s hand is trembling, but her voice is venomous. “I think everyone here would be far more interested in hearing how you’re currently being sued by four different people, or how you’ve been attempting to blackmail Lincoln for the past week.”
He’s breathing hard now. “Does he give you a discount every time you leap to his defense?” His gaze darts to mine. “Guess it makes sense you took the easy road, since you’ve never been smart enough to make it as anything else.”
Everything stops when Reed stands, his chair screeching loudly along the floor, his face calm enough that I know he’s truly angry. I ready myself for the onslaught, but it’s not me he walks to.
No, he steps up to Kyle, politely says, “I owe you this,” and punches him square in the nose.
CHAPTER53
THE AFTERMATH (ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK)
LINCOLN
Things get chaotic after that. Reed disappears to ice his hand and Kyle storms off in a literal bloody rage. Ivy and I slip out of the room somewhere between Joe telling the filthiest joke I’ve ever heard and Judy confessing to flashing a cop to get out of a speeding ticket. “I had no idea it would work, but I was still breastfeeding Hayden back then, so they looked huge—” And that’s when my brain shut down to save me the therapy bill.
Ivy has already returned to our bedroom alone, with a stern command to “talk to your brother,” so that’s what I’m doing.
I discover him in Deacon’s old office, disheveled and ridiculous. “Good god, Reed. What are you wearing?”
He sighs, one hand on the door. “I see your eyesight is deteriorating in your old age. They’re pyjamas, as you well know.”
I know I’m smiling too much, especially considering all that’s happened tonight, but I can’t be blamed. “You look like a Christmas cracker. Is that a matching dressing gown? Does Felicity pull you at midnight for a prize?”
“As witty as ever. Are you done?”
“Not even close.”
He steps back, a smile tugging at his mouth. Either he’s taking everything remarkably well, or he’s drunk. Or both. “Come in, then. It’s freezing. Tea?”
“Stupid question.”
He’s holding an icepack to his knuckles, setting it down to pour a second cup as I settle into one of the armchairs by the bookcase. There’s a large teak desk by the bank of windows, but Deacon never really worked in here, treating it more like a den than an office. There’s even a wet bar hidden in the globe in the corner.
I’m glad to find Reed here. Depending on how this conversation goes, I might have to swap the tea for whiskey.
