She faces the floor-length mirror, patting curls that are styled to perfection. “Does it bother you? The way I am with Shawn? The way he is with me?”
I shrug. “I love you both. And I trust you.” I cross my arms. “And I won’t warn you off or tell you not to hurt him. Sometimes he sets himself up to get hurt.” I meet her eyes in the mirror, so she sees the sincerity in mine. “As long as you’re up-front with him, then I don’t expect anything more.”
He deserves that from at least one person in his life.
“I have no trouble with that,” she mutters.
My smile grows. “Exactly. Which is why I have no opinion.”
When we return, George and Shawn are no longer alone at the table, but they did save seats for the both of us.
“Food. Good.” Darla’s eyes are locked on what appears to be an elegant apple and pear salad, a plate of which sits at each place setting. The moment she sits down, a fork is already in her hand.
“Ah ah ah,” a male voice chides from across the table, and I’m horrified to see a middle-aged white man wagging his finger in the air at my friend. “We’re waiting until everyone is seated to start the meal.” The stranger gestures to the gathering, only half of whom have foundtheir way to chairs. The other half is slowly moving toward the tables, enjoying their conversations.
“You’rewaiting,” Darla clarifies, spearing a pear glistening with a golden sauce on her fork. “I’m eating.” She takes a bite, and her lids flutter closed as she lets out a pleased noise. “Fuck, that’s delicious,” she mumbles the words, but the table still hears.
The man frowns deep, judgment wrinkling his face as he stares at Darla. “That was rude.”
She swallows, then cuts him a look as penetrating as her fork through the soft fruit. “Rude is expecting me to be hungry. Ever. Reevaluate your priorities.” She turns her attention to me, head tilting slightly in the direction of our tablemate. “Definite no.” Then her gaze finds Shawn’s. “Ten out of ten on food. Three out of ten on company.”
My brother leans toward her. “If I give you half of my salad, would you consider upping that to four out of ten for company?”
Darla freezes, then something like a smile attempts to claim her face. “Deal.”
George snorts beside me as we watch Shawn shovel apples and pears onto Darla’s plate while he tells her about the caramelized apple vinaigrette it’s dressed in and how he was lucky enough to be invited for a taste test when Tasha and Annabel were choosing the menu.
I turn to my date, enjoying the sparking gray eyes staring down at me. “If Darla kills Shawn,” I whisper, “I think he’ll just come back as a ghost and haunt her and not even realize he’s dead.”
George barks out a laugh, then holds up my fork for me. “Want to join the rebels?”
“We better, before Darla decides she wants more than her extra half a share.”
Our tablemate makes a few grumbling remarks to the woman athis side while throwing glares our way. But after they go unacknowledged, the two of them get up and move to a different table.
“Did you know that loaf of white bread in a suit?” Darla asks Shawn and George.
“That was Francis Walkman. He’s the vice president of logistics at BBN.”
“Is that important?”
“He oversees BBN’s operations and supply strategies.”
Yeah, that sounds important.
“And you don’t care that I ran him off?” Darla presses.
“You warned me you weren’t going to be nice to my business associates.” Shawn shrugs, still wearing a goofy, happy smile. “You’re so honest. I love it.”
Darla narrows her eyes, as if she’s not certain whether to trust my brother’s relaxed reaction. But then more food comes out, so she lets it go. We’re halfway through the second course when Tasha and a beautiful woman with golden skin, chin-length black hair, and hooded eyes join our table.
“You all came!” Tasha grins at the four of us. “This might be the best gift. Beth, Darla, this is my wife, Annabel. Annabel, this is Beth,” she gestures toward me, “and Darla.”
“Hi.” I offer a wave, not sure if I’m supposed to stand up and shake their hands or hug them or what. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Tasha beams, and Annabel blushes.
“You both have fantastic taste in food,” Darla offers, which honestly is one of the nicest greetings she’s ever given a stranger.
