Tris stifles a laugh. “Yeah, well, apparently Della isn’t allowed to cook.” She puts her hands up. “I didn’t ask, but that’s fine, we’ve got plenty.”
I nod in agreement. “It’s going to be awesome. Everyone will love it.”
“Yeah, unlike my parents’ soirée,” she mutters, and instantly my jaw clenches, though she doesn’t notice. “Between the dull conversation and the pompous attitudes, I can’t believe I ever enjoyed those things.”
On one hand, I’m glad she felt out of place there if only because I’m not sure she ever actually liked that version of herself, but on the other hand... I’m still mad she went. I look away, trying to hide it, trying to control the waves of disappointment as they crash over me. She’s better than that. Better than her father, I know it, but by going, she basically co-signed everything he’s done... allegedly. I roll my eyes, our whole argument opening up at the front of my mind.
“Right, I’m gonna’ go,” I say briskly, unable to hide my contempt.
“You’re still angry I went,” she surmises. “I told you I was, Levi.”
“Yup,” is all I say, worried that if I say any more than this, the whole night will be ruined before it begins. “I’m going to bring these to the cafe now. I’ll be back later to pick you and Ellie up.”
“Fine,” she replies quickly, her face neutral, like she’s put on a mask to hide from me whatever emotions she’s feeling underneath, before turning around and walking away.
The bedroom door closes behind her, and I’m still standing at the kitchen counter when the shower starts running. The heaviness settles back into my chest as I pack the truck with the food. Ellie peeks through the curtains of my duplex window, and I lift a hand in a small wave before climbing into the truck and driving to the cafe.
“Alright, enough of this big guy, broody, bullshit,” Rory blurts out after I’ve barely said ten words since getting here.
I’ve been in my head, unable to shake it off.
“Seriously, you’re not ruining this for her,” Rory adds, her pink curls bouncing wildly as she shakes her head.
“I’m not trying to,” I growl out. “I just can’t believe she still doesn’t get why going to that stupid dinner was fucked up. I mean, we all know that there’s got to be some truth in those charges,” I grind out, raising my voice and causing everyone here to stop what they’re doing. “Even if half of his charges are true, he’s the reason people are dead.”
Rory and Ainsley look at each other with a pointed look before throwing it to Callie. She sighs, and before she even looks over her shoulder at Tom, he’s already walking toward her.
“Sunshine,” he warns. “Don’t.”
“Rory’s right,” she says, ignoring Tom. “You’re being an idiot.”
“And how do you figure that?” I cross my arms, convinced there’s nothing she can say that will make me change my mind.
“Callie,” Tom warns again, his voice dropping lower.
I look around the room, and it finally clicks that there’s something they all know and aren’t telling me.
“Someone want to fill me in?”
“If she hadn’t gone to that ‘stupid party,’” Rory says with air quotes, “then she would have never been able to figure out how to take her father down for his crimes.”
“Rory!” Tom blurts, throwing his arms up. “Why do I bother?” he asks.
“What the hell are you guys talking about?” I ask, eyes narrowed on every one of them, ending with Tom.
“Don’t look at me, we all promised Tris she could be the one to tell you, but now that they’ve started, I know better than to get in their way.”
“Don’t look at me,” Ainsley echoes, stepping toward Tom with her hands raised, leaving the two with the most gumption in the room to tell me themselves.
I look between Rory and Callie, waiting as I clench my fists at my sides.
“Well?” My patience grows thin, and Callie rolls her eyes.
“After a bit of spying at the party, Tris followed her gut, and with these two’s help.” She points to Ainsley and Rory. “She found evidence that proves, well, everything.”
My head drops, and my mouth opens in shock. “What?”
“There’s a lot more to it, but she came to Tom and me, and with the help of our lawyer, she spoke with the U.S. Attorney’s Office yesterday.” Callie picks up a toy that Sunny has thrown on the floor, but doesn’t continue.
