“Over there.”
The two of them hurry off like they feel the awkwardness as much as I do.
I stare after them, confused.
They’re acting like my mother is some demon from the underworld and not just his ex-wife.
Which, to be fair, depends on the day.
Thankfully Darren and Simone roll in not long after. Unfortunately, Mom does too.
She takes up position near the drinks table while Dad and Manuel hover near the grill on the opposite side of the yard.
The grass between them might as well be a war zone.
Darren rolls up beside me, stopping right in the middle where I’m standing with my arms crossed, monitoring all sides like a UN peacekeeper.
“This is a bad idea,” he mutters.
“Tell me about it,” I say gruffly. “Why’d you invite him?”
“Dad asked me to.”
“And you couldn’t say no to daddy?”
He whips his head toward me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” I say, already walking away.
“Get back here,” he snaps.
The next thing I know, something slams into the back of my right knee.
My leg buckles and I go down face-first into my own grass.
“What the fuck?” I snap, pushing myself up and brushing the blades off my shirt.
“Tell me what you meant,” Darren says, coming dangerously close to running over my left foot.
“Do you really wanna do this here, asshole?” I snap, standing and brushing dirt off my palms as I step toward him.
Before I can tackle him, wheelchair and all, Jess wedges herself between us.
“Are you two insane?” she hisses, a tight, almost manic smile on her face. “This is a party for your niece’s christening,” she snaps at me then Darren. “Your daughter.”
“He’s acting like an asshole,” Darren shoots back, pointing at me.
“Me?” I bark. “You pushed me to the ground. What are you, twelve?”
“You know what?” Jess snaps. “Inside. Now.”
The authority in her voice could stop traffic. Darren and I obey like two sulking ten-year-olds.
As we head toward the ramp, I instinctively grab the handle of Darren’s chair to help him up.
“I can do it,” he snaps.
“And I don’t wanna be here all day,” I snap back.
