“What? Bennett and Layla are engaged. That means someone else has to be next. It’s just math.” She points at Caleb and Serena. “You two have been together for a while. What’s the holdup?”
“We’re taking our time,” Serena says, admirably composed. “There’s no rush.”
“There’s always a rush. Life is short. Dolphins only live thirty to fifty years, and they’re smarter than us.”
“That’s not—” Caleb starts.
“And dogs only live ten to thirteen years. What if you were a dog, Uncle Caleb? You’d already be dead. Would you want to die unmarried?”
“I’m not a dog.”
“But if you were.”
“I’m not.”
Michaela sighs heavily and turns to Dominic. “What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?”
Dominic grins. “I’m working on it.”
“Working on it, how? Do you have a plan? Plans are important.”
“I have... strategies.”
“That’s not the same thing.” Michaela shakes her head with clear disappointment. “You need a five-year plan. That’s what they teach us at my ‘Future Leaders’ club. Where do you want to be in five years?”
“Probably still annoying Jenna,” Dominic says, shooting a look down the table.
Jenna doesn’t look up from her menu. “You’re already exceeding expectations in that department.”
“See? I’m ahead of schedule.”
Michaela considers this exchange with narrowed eyes. “Jenna, do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Do you want one?”
“Not particularly.”
“What about a husband?”
“Even less.”
Michaela nods slowly, then looks at Dominic, then back at Jenna, then at Dominic again. I can almost see the calculations running behind her eyes.
“Interesting,” she says finally.
“What’s interesting?” Dominic asks.
“Nothing. Just compiling evidence.” She picks up a breadstick and takes a deliberate bite. “I’ll let you know my conclusions when I’ve finished my analysis.”
“Should I be concerned?”
“Probably.”
The conversation fractures after that—Bennett and Layla discussing wedding planning updates, Caleb and Serena debating whether they have time to care for a cat or if they should stick to goldfish, David trying to pretend he isn’t checking his phone to see if Principal Harrison’s school email is in his contacts.
I let it wash over me, the noise and warmth, and chaos of it all.
