“Let’s see...” Dean leaned forward to rest his arms on the table as his brow furrowed in thought. Similarly to the way Oliver rattled off his achievements earlier, he said, “Petty theft, trespassing, arson, multiple charges for damage to property and car theft...”
I slid lower in my seat and brought my glass of water to my lips as he counted off each offense on one hand. He used his other hand to add several more.
“Underage drunk driving, break and enter, streaking on a dare—”
I sucked the water in too hard and sputtered quietly into my glass.
“That was all before I was nineteen. I could go on but I’m guessin’ you’re gonna pull up my rap sheet later anyway,” Dean said, eyes narrowing on my father before he smiled. “Did you want my last name, just in case?”
My father looked ready to burst as he gritted his teeth, while my mother was stunned into silence, mouth gaping like a goldfish.
This was it. If I thought the silence before was uncomfortable, this one was terrifying. Everyone’s attention was on our end of the table, including the younger cousins. Little Grace looked confused about why everyone was quiet.
Dean would be lucky to make it out of here in handcuffs if my father didn’t get his gun first.
“I think he’s lovely,” the frail voice cut through the silence.
There was a rustling of clothes and creaking of chairs as everyone’s heads turned in the opposite direction.
Grandmother Gwen was still digging into her lunch, completely unaware of the tension as she smiled sweetly. How she heard anything from that end of the table was a miracle.
“Quite the looker too,” she added. “Much better than your taste in men, Kate—”
“Who’s ready for cake?” Mom said quickly, jumping to her feet as she ignored what her own mother said.
Jane, who was in a fit of silent giggles across the table, slapped a hand over her mouth when Mom shot her a glare. The same glare cut to me.
“Lily, care to lend me a hand?”
I wasn’t entirely certain I should leave Dean alone with them. They were all ready to pounce.
His arms were still braced on the table as he preoccupied himself with the corner of a napkin. A very subtle smile on his lips before he glanced at me from over his shoulder.
“I am so sorry,” I told him quietly.
“Lily,” Mom snapped.
I jumped at the harsh tone of her voice, forcing myself to stand and follow her into the house as she marched ahead. The murmurs and muttering of the table faded into the background once I stepped inside. Just as I rounded the corner into the large, pristine kitchen, Mom took hold of my wrist and yanked me close.
“Ow, Mom—”
“What were you thinking? Bringing a boy like that into our home?”
“He’s not a boy—”
“You have embarrassed me and your father. Not to mention poor Oliver,” she hissed, her grip firm.
“I had no intention of embarrassing anyone,” I said quietly, trying and failing to pry my wrist from her hand. “I’m allowed to see other people—”
“Not people like him,” she cut in, brown eyes flaring.
I paused and frowned. “People like him? You don’t even know him.”
“I know Oliver is a better choice.”
“According to you...”
She snapped her mouth shut.
