The doorbell rang again.
“I’ll get it,” Papa said, rising with a confused look.
The kids all went back to eating, but I had some sort of weird sixth sense that something was wrong. My sever was acting up like mad.
A few seconds later, I knew why. I’d thought it was my feelings about Jack that were making that part of my soul burn and ache, but when Papa came back into the kitchen, looking nervous but strangely hopeful, with Chester right behind him, everything made horrible sense.
“Look who it is,” Papa said, his voice breathy. I knew he was anxious, because he went to stand behind Dad’s chair instead of resuming his own seat.
“Chester,” my dad greeted the new arrival with an awkward smile. He stood a beat too late and stepped around the table to hold his hand out to my ex. “What a surprise to see you here. It’s been ages.”
“Yes, it has,” Chester said.
The weird, bristly energy he’d had at the expo and when he’d spoken to me in the office before that was there in droves, but I could tell he was trying to fight it. We might not have been bonded anymore, but I’d known him since we were kids and I could read his moods.
Chester turned to me, heat flooding his face and neck, cleared his throat, and said, “Hi, Quincy.”
“Chester.” I nodded tightly at him, but that was it.
The kitchen was silent. Even the younger kids knew something was wrong.
“Where are my manners?” Papa pushed himself into motion first. “Come and sit down. We have extra spaghetti, if you’re hungry, although I’m sure homecooked spaghetti is pedestrian compared to what you must be used to eating these days.”
“No, no, that’s fine,” Chester said, holding up one hand. “I mean, I still appreciate a homecooked meal. I haven’t gotten that much bigger than my britches.” He laughed stiltedly.
I hated him. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but every instinct in me was certain he’d played a major part in keeping me and Jack apart.
“What do you want?” I asked, pushing back my chair and standing.
My parents both stiffened, exchanging a look like they were certain they’d have to jump in to put a stop to their dangerous and unpredictable son at any moment.
“I, erm, um….” Chester glanced around the table with a desperate look.
“Let’s take this into the other room,” I said, moving toward the door.
I kind of hated the way my whole family let out a breath of relief as we left. I knew they loved me, but I also knew my problems were bigger than they could handle sometimes. And they knew Chester had instigated those problems.
I headed down the hall, going all the way to the den that Dad had had built on the back of the house after his fourth child had been born. It was a mess with toys and electronics all over that the kids hadn’t put away, but I kind of liked being in a room that reflected my inner mess.
“What do you want, Chester?” I repeated, crossing my arms.
“I wanted to see how you are,” Chester said, not quite able to look me in the eyes. “That whole thing last month with the Tech Expo was kind of hard, eh?”
“Kind of hard?” I gaped at him, letting my arms drop.
“I mean, I know you got attached to Senator Salisbury’s son,” Chester’s face turned redder, and he still wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
“I love him,” I said, fighting not to shout it from the rooftops. I didn’t want to disturb my family any more than they were already disturbed. “Jack and I were in love, and you and Salisbury forced us apart.”
“I don’t know if that’s exactly true,” Chester said, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously.
“Which part of it? That Jack and I are in love? Because we are,” I said, my emotions already dangerously on the edge. “But I’m not good enough for Senator fucking Salisbury, so he got you, his little techie lapdog, to pull all the strings that broke us up.”
I was kind of just spitballing out of anger, and because someone who definitely had played a part in tearing my heart toshreds was right there, conveniently in front of me so I could yell at him.
I didn’t expect Chester to look as fucking guilty as he suddenly did.
It was only for a moment, though.
