I almost gasped after the words came out. So caught up in the breakfast, the filter in my brain dropped, and I spoke about the only topic that could make the atmosphere uncomfortable again.
Mom poured syrup on her toast, her movements uncomfortably stiff. “How is Annabelle?”
I swallowed. “She’s doing well.”
“And Millie?”
My chest lightened at the mention of my niece. “She’s great.”
Mom smiled too, her shoulders relaxing. It had the opposite effect on my dad, who seemed to tense more.
“Are you still her unpaid nanny?” my father grumbled.
“Lionel,” my mother warned with a sharp look.
“Answer the question, Alexander.”
“I’m not her unpaid nanny, but yes. I still watch Millie from time to time.” More like five days a week.
Dad’s brows knit, and his stare hardened. “You’re supposed to be focused on finishing your degree and becoming a doctor, not on raising a child.”
“God forbid I help my sister,” I said under my breath.
“God forbid she use you as a crutch because she knows you’re too nice to say no.” I flinched at the unexpected rising of his tone. When heads began turning our way, he paused and readjusted himself. Lower this time, he said, “She is going to cost you your future, and that is on you.”
The rest of breakfast was mostly quiet. My mom tried to get us all talking again, but I had nothing more to say. My sister and our parents had a complicated and messy relationship, and I hated that they put me in the middle of it. Expressing that to them would only create more issues.
When it was time to leave, my mom had to use the restroom, and Dad needed to pay the bill, so I opted to wait for them in the waiting area. The only unoccupied space was the one beside a child who was bouncing, twisting, and standing on the chair. He could not sit still to save his life, but it was better than being alone at the table with my dad.
I leaned my head against the wall, closed my eyes, and took a much-needed deep breath as I ignored the chaos happening next to me. Honestly, it was a lot less stressful than the breakfast I had just suffered through.
“You’re everywhere, aren’t you?”
My eyes opened in an instant. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. “Hi, River.”
“Alex, are you stalking me?” his tone was awfully sweet.
“Stalking?” I scoffed. “I was here before you.”
River’s body loomed over me. “You say that, but maybe you only got here before me because you already knew I was going to be here. You only got here first so that I wouldn’t know you actually followed me.”
“That’s… a theory. A ridiculous theory, but still a theory.”
“I think it’s the most logical explanation.” He chuckled as his eyes scanned the restaurant. “Ate alone?”
“With my parents. I’m waiting for them now.” I barely finished my sentence before I winced, a sharp pain shooting through my arm. The restless kid beside me’s foot impaled me, and he hadn’t even noticed. I moved my chair over. “You?”
His casual grin faltered, and his nostrils flared. “Uh, no. I’m getting food to-go. Your parents are here? Now?”
I nodded and pointed toward the dining room. “Yeah, they’re…”
I trailed off when an employee came toward us with a bag in her hands. She handed it to River. “Here you are, Mr. Moore.”
“Thanks.” River dug through his pocket and pulled out a few dollars as a tip. After she left, he turned to me again, but his eyes now held an emotion I couldn’t identify. “See you in class tomorrow.”
And he scurried off without another word.
It was the weirdest behavior I had seen from him yet.
