“It’s too bad your brother had to miss lunch,” Mom repeated for what had to be the third time. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen him, it’s starting to feel like he’s avoiding us.”
She gave a brittle laugh, and Dad patted her arm.
“Mom, he had to work,” I said. “I’m sure he’ll come next time.”
“That’s what we heard the last time,” she murmured. “But he always has a better offer.”
My brother had missed Dad’s birthday party to go on vacation with Rachel’s family. My mother hadn’t forgotten. Might possiblyneverforget that slight.
“He just got the job at The Diner,” I said. “He couldn’t ask for time off already.”
“I suppose.”
“It’s a good thing, Mom. He needs to uphold his responsibilities.”
She met my gaze. “Tell me, Hank. If Rachel wanted him at lunch withherfamily, would he be responsible?”
I winced and shot a desperate look at my father.
He cleared his throat. “Well, my steak was just about perfect. This lunch has been lovely. It seems like you’re settling in over there, hey?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “I’m helping organize a festival.”
“Honey, you work too much?—”
“And I’ve made a new friend,” I reminded her. “We’ve been hanging out.”
Mostly, I’d invited myself to hang out, but Mom didn’t need to know that.
“Hey, guys!” Fox approached the table, looking out of place in ripped jeans and a black hoodie with a big Ink Anarchy logo. “How’s it going?”
My mom brightened. She’d always had a soft spot for my cousin. “Hello, Franklin! Do you want to join us?”
Fox grimaced at the birth name he’d never liked. “Nah, this place is too fancy for me.”
“Nonsense! Sit and we’ll get you some dessert.”
Fox cut a look at me, and I shook my head. I needed an exit, not a reason to linger.
“Nah, I thought I’d take my boy over to the pool hall. Grab a beer. Catch up, just us guys.”
“Oh. Well, all right…”
“It was great to see you.” Fox swooped in to kiss her cheek, then slapped my dad on the shoulder. “You better hold on to this one, Uncle Davis. Someone might steal this beauty away.”
Dad chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Mom said, but she was smiling and patting her hair. Fox could be a charmer when he wanted. I envied him a little. I usually only operated that smoothly when I had a few beers in me. One more reason I was good at hooking up, but terrible at dating.
I pushed back my chair and bent to kiss Mom goodbye. “I’ll tell Corey to call you.”
“Okay, hon. Have fun.”
I followed Fox outside, breathing a sigh of relief. “Thanks for getting me out of there.”
I’d sent him a 911 text fifteen minutes ago when lunch started to feel like a torture session.
“No prob.” He punched my arm hard enough it hurt a bit. “Probably the only way I’d ever get you to hang out with me.”
