I aim a smile at my frowning father. His lip curls.
“How…very sweet,” my mother says. But the slight clouding of her blue eyes betrays her annoyance. She’d expected to spend the afternoon charming Mateo’s pants off. It’s not a new game. She always hits on my dates. It’s not that my parents have an open marriage. They simply play by the same rules. My father fucks anything that moves, while my mother fucks anything that…well, anything that I fuck, it seems.
“We’re holding up lunch,” my father mutters, turning to the formal dining room.
“No drinks on the patio, Broderick?” my mother asks.
“No time,” he says. “Not with her keeping us waiting like that.”
One goddamn minute.
I don’t care. The sooner I can get out of here, the better. I make my way to the huge dining room table.
“Won’t you set another place, Carlos?” my mother asks their major domo as I sit. “Here…next to me.” She pats the seat beside the one she’s just settled into.
“I’ll sit across from Andy,” Mateo interrupts. “I’m sure you don’t mind, Steph?” He aims a megawatt smile at my mother, who simpers in response. My father has raised a hand to Carlos, asking for a whiskey.
“You look like a whiskey man too, eh, Richards?” he asks Mateo.
“Actually, I’ll go with Andy’s choice,” Mateo replies.
“Just sparkling water for me,” I say meekly. Where is my fire when these people are around?
“Water?” says my mother. “Decided to deal with that drinking problem of yours, at last, I hope.” I don’t respond. Generally, the only way I can get through these family reunions is to get tanked and stay that way. But not today. I need my wits about me.
“Same for me,” Mateo agrees. “I’m driving, after all.” Carlos bustles about, setting out cutlery and filling glasses. Minutes later, he leaves and returns with our meals.
“So, what’s your business, Richards,” my father gets straight to the point. “You look like a man with a good head on his shoulders. Banking?”
“I dabble in this and that,” Mateo replies.
“Really? Sounds intriguing,” my father says.
“It certainly does!” my mother gushes. “So enigmatic. Have you known our little Annie Pannie long?” I bristle at the nickname.
“Long enough.” Mateo turns his attention to her.
“Long enough for what, darling?” she purrs.
“To know that she’s special,” Mateo answers, smiling over at me.
I feel my cheeks burn, and I glance down at the bowl that Carlos has set down in front of me. The creamy soup is rich and aromatic.
“Well, that’s all fine, boy,” my father interrupts, “but this family has responsibilities…and Andrea bears them with us.”
Great.
He’s going to make the marriage thing about family responsibilities, how I have a duty to them. I can just feel it coming. Seeking distraction, I stir my spoon over the surface and inhale deeply.
“Andrea, don’t be common. It’s not polite to begin your meal before everyone has been served,” my mother remarks.
“Actually, I’d say that Andy is probably the most uncommon woman I’ve ever met,” Mateo says.
“Don’t hold your hopes up, Richards,” my father says. “She’ll show her true colors soon enough.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, finally feeling my temper flare.
“Well, you’re hardly your brother now, are you, Andrea?”
