“Nope, nothing.” He looked her dead in the eye. God, that man could lie.
Genesis’s version of black-tie was slightly less naked than normal. He was wearing a loose shirt with not a single button buttoned. For the occasion, he had some of those white shells braided into his beard, the kind high school boys used to wear in the nineties. The man was barely civilized, and she had to admit that she saw the appeal.
Jasmine, who was dressed like a redheaded Aphrodite, clinked her glass with a fork. “Welcome to Together, everyone.”
Genesis took the fork from his wife, leaving her standing with a glass, about to make a speech. Jasmine smiled tightly, like she was having difficulty stretching her lips around all that rage.
I see you, girl.Gabby had been there.
Maybe this is just how a Hollywood marriage to an action star worked. Gabby understood having your head turned around, feeling mad one minute and forgiving the next. Marriage was complicated, and so were the individuals in it. And Genesis was a lot: cultleader, action star, claimed to generate waves with his heartbeat. That was too much ego to fit into one marriage.
“Tonight, we are celebrating Togetherness,” he said. “We will no longer do everything separately. From this point on, we will be together.”
Why did that sound like a threat?
“Instead of unburdening yourself to this shell, you will tell your partner your secrets, your fears, your hopes. You can’t forge a true connection with someone without honesty.”
Jasmine was no longer attempting to smile. She looked like she might kill him. He looked like he wouldn’t see it coming.
Genesis held the shell high and then smashed it to the ground. It cracked in two as it hit a lava rock below. Gabby jumped back as a jagged piece skipped across the hard, packed sand.
“You are one step closer to becoming a Power Couple,” Genesis said. “Tonight, we’re celebrating that achievement with Together.”
“Four fists, two hearts, one unstoppable force!” Phil chanted the tagline toPower Couple.
G’s energy was off, a little too high, in danger of spinning in the wrong direction. He almost shouted “Never not together!” in answer to Phil’s chant, confirming Gabby’s opinion that the movie probably wasn’t for her.
Phil sidled up next to her. “You look nice… Gia.”
What circle of hell was this?
“Gia and George have brought togetherness to another level,” Genesis added. “Gia’s mother and even her ex-husband have joined them in support.” Genesis looked at Phil. “This toast goes to Phil. Way to put your own feelings and pride aside to support the mother of your children and the greater good.”
If only.
“If more men could be like you, we would be a better world.”
Gabby started choking on her champagne.
Phil gave a deep nod and held his cocktail in the air.
Gabby took the opportunity to tell him, “Phil, if you were actually here to support me, it would be different.”
“How am I not here to support you?” he said, sloshing liquid out of his drink. “I’m supporting our family. You know, we were a power couple before, Gabby.”
She looked at him. “Phil, to be a power couple, both members of the couple have to have power. It can’t just be one person with all the power while the other one does the laundry.” Trad wives made it look good, but real laundry wasn’t nearly as satisfying. Plastic baskets with broken handles, unmatched socks, period underwear, and no one ever said thanks.
Phil scowled. “That’s not what we were.”
It was, though. He knew it as well as she did.
“Enjoy the food and the music.” Genesis held his glass up again and said, “Let’s eat.”
Back in the day, before kids, she and Phil had gone to Red Lobster on Fridays after work. Now Gabby’s mouth watered at the sight of the tables piled high with a seafood feast that would put the chain meals to shame.
“Gabby,” Markus caught her attention, “let’s grab a place by G and Jasmine.”
Smart move, Markus.
