For the first time in weeks, we eat dinner as a family the next night. Usually, I grab a plate and either eat with Lindy at the kitchen island or take something up to my room. Tonight, Lourdes has set the table in the breakfast nook and opened a bottle of wine. I’ll have a little on special occasions but I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, and the Bordeaux she’s chosen is dry for my taste.
Not that she cooked—she doesn’t cook unless it’s something like scrambled eggs for Lindy—and the scent that hits my nostrils makes my mouth water. She and my father buy a lot of pre-made meals that either can be warmed up, microwaved, or come prepared in an oven-safe dish so someone can just toss it in.
“What’s the occasion?” I ask, politely sipping my wine as we gather at the table.
“Your father is rarely home for dinner so I thought we’d enjoy some family time,” Lourdes says primly.
“Well, the brisket is delicious.”
Lourdes smirks. “It should be for what it costs.”
Dad scowls at her. “Lourdes, we talked about this. We need to cut back.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “I’m not going to compromise on food. For heaven’s sake, Hugh.”
He arches a brow. “So, you wouldn’t compromise on the house. You wouldn’t compromise on private school for Lindy. And you’re not compromising on those shoes and purses you’re always buying. What, exactly, are you compromising on?”
“It’s not like we’re destitute!” she says, laughing as she twirls her wine glass. “And my interior design business is going to take off—you’ll see.”
“It better. It would be nice to have money coming in instead of going out, for once.”
I focus on my plate since I don’t want to get involved.
Until—
“Why are you yelling at me?” Lourdes pulls her lips into a pout. “Jayne’s the one you should be mad at.”
Oh, great. Now what?
“Jayne.”
I glance up warily.
“I hear you have a new friend.”
I arch a brow, hoping to look confused even as I pray he’s not talking about Bodi.
“Who are you talking about?” I finally ask.
“Billie.”
Okay, I can deal with this.
“What about her?”
“Well, for one thing—” Lourdes puts down her fork with a little thump. “—she’s engaged to my ex-husband. It’s downright incestuous.”
“Incestuous? You might need to look that word up,” I respond calmly. “Why can’t Billie and I be friends? We’re aboutthe same age, we’re both in grad school, we have a lot in common.”
“She lives in Los Angeles,” Dad says. “You’re never going to see her!”
“She’s planning to come visit Bodi whenever she can.”
“And that’s reason number two,” Dad says. “I’ve told you I don’t want you hanging out with guys on the team. It’s bad enough you spent the morning with McGregor. Now you’re getting chummy with Bodi’s sister. Can you just do what I tell you, for once in your life?”
I stare at him in confusion. “You tell me I need to make friends and not be such a book worm in one breath, but the moment I do it, you tell me not to.”
“Go be friends with whomever you want!” Dad throws up a hand. “Just not anyone on the team or related to someone on the team. Is that too much to ask?”
