Leaning forward, I toyed with my empty champagne glass. “You know, since I am one.”
His smirk was unsurprising, but just as smug. “I’m impressed, Dillon.”
“That makes me feel so much better. Now that you’re impressed, Vann.”
He rested his elbows on the table, dipping his head so we were exactly eye level. “I assumed that was your goal. Impressing me.”
My jaw snapped shut, my teeth clacking together in frustration. I shot him a tight-lipped smile. He hid his grin behind a sip of coffee.
I narrowed my eyes at him. He opened his, all wide-eyed innocence.
The rest of the table watched us like a tennis match, their heads bouncing back and forth.
I turned to Ezra and smiled sweetly. “I guess I have you to thank.”
“For what?” he asked smoothly, trying to smother a laugh at my expense.
“For making me a real head chef.”
Ezra shrugged. “I don’t think you can credit me with any of what you’re doing at the restaurant. That’s all you.”
I shoved a bite of abandoned donut in my mouth and tried to act normal. Between all the compliments and support and Vann’s teasing and gloating and just all-around presence, I was completely frazzled. If I was a bird all my feathers would be ruffled right now. All of them. Every last one.
“There was a time I would have thought this was impossible,” Ezra continued. Fresh embarrassment descended like a tsunami. “Now here you are, tellingmehow you’re going to runmyrestaurant.”
I knew he meant well. I knew this was a moment of genuine love and affection coming from my older brother. But did it need to happen right now? With Vann here? And all these other people?
Of course, Vann didn’t take the polite, socially acceptable way out. Oh, no. He had to poke the hornet’s nest. “Why do you say that?”
Ezra had no embarrassment meter. I didn’t even think he knew how to feel embarrassed. There was not a gauge inside him warning him when to slow down or stop. He just plowed onward, ticking up quite the body count behind him.
Today was the first time I’d been considered a real-life casualty. But that didn’t make it easier.
“Because Dillon used to be wild. She couldn’t hold a job, let alone manage a restaurant.” His voice sobered, losing the humorous edge he’d had seconds ago. “Honestly, there was a time, I thought I was going to lose her.” I glared at him and he flinched, realizing he’d said too much. “But now look at you, sis.” His tone was peppy with renewed energy, hoping to cover for his unwanted trip down memory lane. “You pulled it together.”
“Thanks, Ez.” I only used his nickname to irritate the bejesus out of him. “But we don’t have to rehash any of that today. Or any day. Or ever…”
Vann’s ears perked up like a hunting dog on the scent. “Must have been a pretty scary time though. I mean, especially as her brother.”
Ezra nodded.
I was going to murder Vann.
“It killed me when Vera was with Derrek the Dick,” Vann spit out. “I felt totally helpless.”
I noticed Molly throwing shade from down the line and was thankful for my one ally. Even if she didn’t say anything. Ezra didn’t even notice Vann’s backhanded tactics.
“Sisters, man,” Ezra sighed.
“All right, I think that’s enough of the big brother support group,” I said, standing up to clear plates. It was officially time to get the hell out of dodge. “You two can meet next month. Ezra, it’s your turn to supply the shitty lemonade.”
Vann looked straight at me and I swear there was a twinkle in his gray, gray eyes. “Whoa, I’m sorry if I offended you. I can just relate to Ezra. That’s all I was saying. I know what it’s like to care for somebody, watching them struggle and not be able to do anything about it.”
“Especially when they don’t want help,” Ezra added.
“I didn’t need help,” I argued, hating that we were having this discussion even after I’d tried so hard to get away from it. “I was fine.”
“Now you’re fine,” Ezra called after me as I stomped toward the kitchen. “You know what you were like six years ago. You know that wasn’t fine. Not even fucking close.”
