"Stop looking so miserable." Tina stands next to the table, sipping on a disgusting-looking green smoothie and eying me with disdain. My sister takes every opportunity to show everyone how healthy she is, and I want to tell her how rude it is to bring a bag of vegetables to family dinner night so you don't eat unhealthy food. "The fact of the matter, Gina, is that all your problems are of your own making."
"Excuse me?" My voice rises, and I’m about to put my spoon down and jump up. I’m not in the mood for herreal talkright now. I’m never in the mood for her unhelpful advice, which also sounds condescending and sarcastic.
"I mean, we all knew that Patrick was a loser. He didn't even introduce you as his girlfriend to anyone, and he didn't have a job." She chews a piece of celery thoughtfully. "At least, not a legal one that we know of."
I press my lips together because she's not wrong, but it's not like I'm going to admit that to her. I have my pride, after all.
"Also, if you want to keep your job, then do what your boss wants. Think about a kickass idea to take in for an article or series of articles that will impress her and keep that archaic newspaper going." She sniffs and shakes her head as she staresat me. Her perfectly straight and highlighted blonde hair doesn't even move as she sizes me up. "You're twenty-five now, Gina. You need to make something of yourself. Stop sitting on your ass, blaming the world for your problems, when you could work hard and fix some of them yourself."
I don't even bother to dignify her comment with a response, partially because I know she's right. I don't have many options, but feeling sorry for myself is not going to help me figure anything out.
"Just so you know," I say finally, "Patrick was going to propose to me tonight, but I was going to say no. I wasn't even going to accept." I say the words smugly, though my inner voice reminds me of how I'd come to find out the information about him buying a ring. And then another inner voice that I hate to hear whispers,"How do you even know the ring was for you?"which is something I didn't want to think about. My ego is already damaged from his cheating, not being emotionally available, and from the fact that I am quickly realizing that I don't think he was ever that interested in me in the first place. Which meant he'd truly just been using me.
"How do you know he was going to propose?" Tina scoffs and then glances down at the 2-carat emerald ring on her finger that is glittering so brightly that I feel like the diamond itself is mocking me for being single and pathetic.
Get it together, Gina, the warrior side of me screams.Stop moping around.
"You can ask Grandma," I say as I glance over at her. "She's the one who got the call about him making an appointment there." My grandma looks up, as if she hadn't been eavesdropping on the entire conversation, and makes her way to the table. Her white hair is tinged a light purplish-silver color and is wrapped in a loose bun. She's wearing an apron that reads,Kiss the chef, and a pair of skinny jeans. Grandma isthe most maternal of women, but she loves to try to remain as trendy as possible.
"Well, yes, we were made aware that he had made an appointment at the store." She takes a seat at the table. "But darling Gina, I do have to admit that Grandad and I didn't care for him, that one time we met him." She looks back at Grandad Fred, and he nods in agreement as he makes his way to the table, as well. He rests his hand on her shoulder and then beams at Tina and me.
“Your grandma and I just want all three of you to be happy. Brody, as well," he adds, like not mentioning him would be wrong. "We've been married over fifty years now, in wedded bliss."
"Partially wedded bliss," Grandma says, as she looks up at him, with love in her light hazel eyes. "We've had our moments."
"But nothing we couldn't get through." He kisses the top of her head, and I would groan loudly at the icky display of affection if they weren't my grandparents. I love them and how in love they still are, but being around them always reminds me of the fact that I'm not even close to having what they have. Even though I desperately want it. Along with a thriving career. But that seems to be asking too much.
"Well, you know that Garth and I are just so in love." Tina sits back with a dreamy expression on her face. "I've never been so spoiled in my life." She reaches up and touches the new string of pearls around her neck and turns to me. "I just want you to set some standards for yourself, Gina." Her expression changes to one of concern. "Don't be so desperate to be in a relationship that you ignore all the red flags."
"You need to shut the..." I stop as I remember my grandparents are sitting across from us. I don't mind cussing my sister out in front of my parents, but I feel like I owe Grams and Gramps a bit more respect. "We should all be so lucky to be withsomeone like Garth," I say sarcastically. "Where is he, by the way?" I look around the kitchen and scratch my hand. "Hiding?"
"He's playing golf with some of his work buddies," she says stiffly. "You know, the place where he works and makes over a hundred thousand a year."
"Well, good for him." I roll my eyes. "I'm sure Bill Gates is jealous of all the money he's bringing in.” I really want to say shut the fuck up, but I know I can’t.
"It's more than you." She sniffs. "But then, you'd be grateful for an extra twenty dollars, wouldn't you?" She offers me a snide smile and opens up her wallet. "Looks like I only have hundreds, but if you need help, sis." I press my lips together and look straight ahead. My sister is once again reminding me why I hate being around her. She has always competed with me. Always tries to make me feel small. Always makes me hate her. I hoped that we'd grow to become friends, but she is seriously one of the biggest bitches I know, and I work with the two Jennys, so that is saying a lot.
"Now now, you two," Grandma says, and I can see her giving Grandpa a look. “Gina, have you tried asking Emma to introduce you to any of the—" She stops as I vehemently shake my head. "Well, there is one other option that may be of help to you."
"What's that? Selling my body on the street?" I half-joke, and Tina starts laughing.
"Nobody even wants it for free; it’s unlikely they're going to pay."
"Tina, why don't you go and see if your brother and parents want anything else to drink," Grandma says in the way that means go now, and I look at her gratefully. "And don't come back for ten minutes."
"Fine." Tina stands up in a huff. "I have to call my husband, anyway." She looks down at me with a smirk. "We're trying todecide where to go on our next vacation: Fiji, Australia, or Italy. So many choices."
"Why don't you both just go to..." I pause and smile sweetly. "Antarctica." Then I take a large gulp of wine and turn back to my grandparents. "So, what's this option that may be of help to me?" I’m glad when Tina saunters out of the kitchen because I am just about done with her.
"You know Grandpa plays golf every week.”
“Yes, of course, I know." I try not to laugh. Everything I buy him is golf related because he just can't get enough of it.
"Well, he was playing 18 holes earlier this week with his usual buddies, but also with Preston Waverly," she says in a hushed, reverential tone. Preston Waverly is well-known in Whisper Cove as being descended from the first inhabitants of the island. He's also the patriarch of the richest, most secretive family in town. There's not much public information around about him, other than some lore that says he built his house with his own two hands, which I definitely don't believe. I've never seen it up close because the property is gated and overlooks a private beach, but I've heard it's humongous and grand.
"Wow, cool." I look over at grandpa. "How was he?"
"He's a nice man, very down to earth." He takes a seat. "He was saying that his wife wanted to write a book about their love story for the next generations."
