“Maggie, can we--?”
Mom’s voice bellowed out of nowhere. “Rebecca, sweetheart!? We could use some help with the grill!”
Maggie cackled from the deep end. “Have fun, sweetheart!”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “Coming, Mom!”
I jogged over to where Mom was trying to clean off the grill for another round of burgers, but I saw her continuously peeking over the fence. I peered through the chain links, wondering what in the hell my mother was looking at.
Then, she grabbed my arm and pulled me close. “Don’t say anything and don’t panic.”
I furrowed my brow. “What’s going on?”
She nodded her head. “Through the chain-link fence. The red car. You see it?”
I peeked around her body. “Yeah. So, what?”
She looked over at me. “See the man leaning against it in the shadows? You have to look really hard, but you can see him.”
And when I realized who it was, my blood boiled.
“What in the absolute fuck is he doing here?” I hissed.
Mom shot me a look. “I don’t know, but you better figure it out before your father sees him.”
I shook my head. “Why the hell would he be at some stupid family reunion anyway. He isn’t family.”
She scoffed. “Thanks.”
I rubbed her back. “You know what I mean, Mom. I mean--.”
“You know your father and his father have always been close. I told your father not to invite the man because of what it might trigger, but that might be why he’s here.”
I ground my teeth together. “You leave him to me. I’ll get him out of here.”
I’d had enough of JoJo’s bullshit. It was one thing to boss me around while I was on the clock. It was a completely different thing to fly halfway across the damn country to attend a family reunion he had no business being at. I marched outside and locked eyes with him. He pushed off the front of the car and made his way for me, but I practically sprinted so that the shadows continued to cloak him by the time I got there.
And when I approached him, I shoved his chest.
“Hey, what the hell gives?” he asked.
I shoved him all the way back into the shadows. “What in the absolute fuck are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “My father and I were invited. He can’t attend because he isn’t feeling well. I figured I’d come and give my regards.”
I stuck my finger in his face. “You weren’t invited. Your father was, yes. But you know damned good and well that the second my father sees you, he’s going to strangle you. Not to mention my sister is in there. Or did you forget that Maggie existed?”
His eyes raked down my body. “Nice shorts.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Eyes up. Now.”
So, he started staring at my tits. “I didn’t even know you owned halter tops. Looks great on you.”
And that’s when I did the unthinkable.
I slapped him right across the face.
“All right, then,” he grunted.
