I appeared calm, cool, and collected, but my stomach did backflips as we approached the table we were assigned. The first person I made eye contact with was my sister Rue. She was seated next to her husband, Rocky, who was Russell’s older brother, and her eyes widened when she saw me with Preston.
I quickly glanced around the table to see who else was seated with us. Rowdy was there with his wife, Noelani. He was Russell and Rocky’s younger brother, who they knew nothing of until about a year ago. He was the product of an affair their father had with Rowdy’s mother. My brow furrowed when my eyes landed on Russell and the woman seated next to him.
Who the fuck is she?
I held my composure because I had no right to feel any kind of way about Russell having a date, especially considering I was here with Preston.
“Hey, everyone. I guess these seats are for us?” I asked, referring to the last two empty seats at the table.
“They sure are, but you didn’t tell me you were bringing someone. Who’s your date?” Rue asked.
“Everyone, this is Preston. Preston, this is my older sister, Rue, and her husband, Rocky. This is Rowdy, Rocky’s younger brother, and his wife, Noelani. This is Russell, Rocky’s middle brother, and I’m not sure who she is.”
I tried to disguise the attitude in my voice, but I wasn’t sure I’d succeeded.
“Hi. I’m Gayle,” she said with a cheesy grin.
“It’s nice to meet everyone,” Preston greeted, getting soft hellos, mumbles, and head nods in return from everyone but Russell.
Preston pulled my chair back, and I sat next to Noelani. He sat next to me, putting him next to Rocky. Russell and Gaylewere seated across from us, and I could feel Russell’s heated glare burning my skin. I did my best to avert my eyes, but it was as if his eyes were a magnet and pulled mine in his direction.
When I finally gave in, his anger was apparent, and I knew he’d have some harsh words for me if he ever got me alone. He had a lot of audacity to be upset at me, with Gayle grinning like a damn Cheshire cat sitting next to him.
As I expected, he looked too good for words, and I would bet my last dollar that he wore his hair down to taunt me.
“So, where’d you two meet?” Noelani asked.
“He was coming out of OC Grill when I was going in. He complimented me and ended up paying for my food,” I responded.
“Aww. That’s cute,” she cooed.
Russell cleared his throat, glaring at us as he grumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t hear.
“What do you do, Preston?” Rue asked.
“Right now, I deliver packages for Onyx City Parcel Services. It was the first thing I could find when I moved to town.”
“I guess that explains why you don’t look familiar. Where are you from?” Rocky asked.
“Chicago.”
“Oh yeah? What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
“I needed a change of scenery,” Preston told him.
Russell cleared his throat, but I was probably the only person who noticed. Our eyes connected again, and his held so many questions, as I was sure mine did.
The dinner was buffet-style, and they called the tables by table number. We went up when our table was called, and once I got my food, I put my plate on the table, covered it with my cloth napkin, and excused myself to the bathroom to wash my hands. Rue and Noelani joined me, and I was grateful Gayle didn’tinvite herself so that we could talk candidly. I knew my sister and Noelani had questions.
“Who is that?” Rue asked as soon as we made it to the hallway.
“Preston,” I answered simply.
“I know what the fuck his name is. Why is he here?” she pressed.
“He’s my date.”
“Are you trying to get that man killed?” Noelani questioned.
