“Keep your promise,” Clara says to me, then saunters off.
I lean against the wall. “Not now.”
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“You’re wasting your time.”
“Clara will be Pepper’s age in six years. What would you do if she brought a man eighteen years her senior home?”
“I’d kill him.”
“You’re a fucking hypocrite.”
“I accept who I am.”
“That’s your problem, you think rules don’t apply to you.”
“Dinner’s ready,” our mother announces.
We all trail into the dining area, but Jensen steps in my way. “There has to be a minuscule amount of human decency left in you. Leave the poor girl alone.”
“A predator never releases its prey.”
Dom settles into the chair next to me. His father says a quick prayer and then we dig in. The family’s lighthearted banter is contagious. I’m not excluded, and everyone is very welcoming, except for Jensen. He really hates me. His constant glare is unnerving. I try my best to ignore him and focus on the delicious lamb chop, roasted red skin potatoes, kale, and buttered roll on my plate.
“Everything tastes really amazing, Edith. It’s rare I have a home-cooked meal.”
“Thank you so much,” she says, glowing.
“Mom’s cooking is barely edible.” Drew winks at me. “No need to suck up.”
Peals of laughter erupt around the table. Drew looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it. I hadn’t noticed before because I was spread wide on top of Dom’s desk.
“You wicked boy.” She whacks him on the head with a wooden spoon.
“Ouch, just joking.”
Dom even participates in the family-friendly squabble. This is a side of him I’ve never seen. He’s almost… almost normal.
The love between them is tangible. What draws my attention most is Howard, the patriarch of the Stone clan. My father and he are polar opposites. He’s all cheer, fun, and jokes. There’s a hole in my heart only the love of a father can fill. Russell Bryant has never shown me an ounce of affection. A horrible event must’ve happened in his life that made him so hateful.
“Who wants peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream?” Edith asks.
A collective chorus of “me” echoes throughout the room.
I’m served a large portion of dessert that leaves me stuffed. I’ll need to exercise for forty hours straight to work off the calories I consumed.
“All right, skedaddle, so I can clean up,” Edith says, gathering plates and silverware.
“I’ll take care of this for you and wash the dishes too,” I offer.
“Bless your heart.” She smiles. “That isn’t necessary.”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do.”
“You are such a sweetheart.”
“I’ll help you,” Drew says.
