“Don’t you mean hockey rink?” Her eyes glitter behind her black cat-eye glasses.
“Grandma!”
“What?” She shrugs a shoulder as the colorful shawl she wears slides down her arm to her elbow. “I can form my own opinions on things. And I happen to disagree with your dads.”
“You do?”
She nods, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. “I told them as such and was told I have no idea what I’m talking about.”
I gulp down the entire glass in one go. I wasn’t planning on drinking tonight, but Harper and I can get a ride-share home if need be.
“Of course you don’t. Dad knows everything.”
Grandma stops me in the hallway. Their house is big. An old Spanish-style house with tiled floors. Two staircases wrap around the entry with a vintage chandelier hanging over the space. Voices from the living room at the back of the house float toward us.
The table behind her has pictures of the entire family. The one I loved so much catches my eye. I’m sitting on my dad’s shoulders after he won his first Super Bowl. Pops is at his side as confetti rains down over us.
I don’t remember much from that day except the confetti. But I loved that picture. The one of us as a family. Now it tugs at my heart, thinking of my dad’s words to me.
Would he really disown me because of Troy?
“C’mon, darling. No being sad tonight. We’re celebrating our sixtieth wedding anniversary.”
I sigh and let her drag me to the back where the party is happening. The living room opens to the dining room and kitchen. Everyone is hovering near the food that is being passed around.
People I recognize and don’t recognize are here. My brother is sitting on the couch, his nose buried in a book. Harper is beside him.
I dodge the familiar faces of my aunts and uncles and head for them. There’s no one else around them. Just how I want it.
“You doing okay?” Harper asks as I sit down on theopposite side of my brother.
“I heard you screwed up big time.” Nick doesn’t bother looking up from the pages of his book.
“Nice to see you too, bro.”
Harper passes me another glass of champagne. “You need this more than I do.”
“Can I have a sip?” Nick asks, looking up.
“Oh, that’s just what I need. Dad getting mad at me for giving you alcohol.”
Nick snickers as another voice cuts into the conversation. “You are not giving your brother alcohol.”
“Uncle Colin.” I jump up and give him a quick hug. “I was doing no such thing.”
“Even though I’m going to college and should experience it in a controlled environment before I get a taste at a frat party.”
“Would you even go to a frat party?” Colin asks him.
“Maybe.”
“That’s a no,” I tell him.
“How are ya, kid?” Colin asks. “How’s the last semester going?”
Nick snorts behind me. “Wrong thing to ask.”
“Nick,” I hiss at him.
