Fuck, Iamneedy.
When the hell did that happen?
I set Jenn down, and she steadies herself by placing her hands on my biceps as she peers over my shoulder before grabbing my hand and pulling me into the house. “Dad!” she yells. “I think that new coach just pulled in!”
Grey turns the corner in a suit of his own, the buttons straining over his round belly. Grey is a big man, easily six-foot-four and weighing two-sixty. He hasn’t been on skis or a board in a really long time, and I imagine if he were to fall at this point, there might be no getting back up.
“Oh, hey, Vox. You just get here?”
I nod.
Looking past me toward his daughter, Grey grows serious. “Jenn, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t parade Vox around to your friends like the family pet.”
Jenn’s mouth drops open in mock offense.
“Father! Whatever do you mean?” Then, turning to me in a stage whisper, Jenn says, “Vox, would you mind taking the jacket off, losing the tie, and undoing the top two buttons on your shirt? I like my parades—and my pets—to be exciting.”
Grey groans and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Jennifer Michelle.”
Jenn throws her head back in evil laughter.
“He’s so dramatic. It’s honestly just a little payback for controlling my purse strings in an attempt to keep me in line. You know how that goes, don’t you?” she says with a roll of her eyes before dragging me from the foyer right as the doorbell rings.
I hear Connor’s muted voice, but before I can think about it too long, I’m being swept into an embrace by Rachel, Jenn’s mom.
“Voxy, baby. It’s so good to see you! It’s been too long.”
She’s right…and I feel like shit about it.
“Sorry, Rachel. Training’s been kind of crazy, and with us doing teams this year, there’s always someone wanting to go somewhere or do something,” I explain.
“Oh, honey, I’m just giving you a hard time. I’m glad you’re making friends. Grey told me you weren’t a fan of the new format. How’s it going? Can I get you something to drink? Glass of wine? Beer? Liquor?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a gin and tonic if you’ve got it,” I tell her, hoping the alcohol can make me numb enough to get through this meal without causing a scene or showing my hand.
“Oh, me too!” Jenn squeals.
Rachel purses her lips. “I don’t think so, young lady, but nice try.”
Jenn pouts, “Moooom, it’s my birthday!”
“Yeah, yourtwentiethbirthday, not your twenty-firstbirthday,” Rachel argues.
“I’m in college. It’s not like I don’t drink,” Jenn admits.
“You’d better not let your father hear you say that,” Rachel scolds.
“Say what?” Grey asks, stepping into the kitchen. It’s anewer house, so the kitchen opens up directly to the living room, and two things happen at once.
Connor steps out from behind Grey to present Rachel with a bottle of wine, causing all my blood to rush south, and one of Jenn’s friends on the couch says, “God, he’s even hotter in person.”
I’m not sure which one of her friends spoke, nor am I sure if she’s talking about me or Connor, who looks every bit the heartbreaker he is in a gray suit with a traditional white button-down. He’s chosen to forgo the tie and has the top two buttons undone—just like Jenn wanted from me.
R.I.P. nutsack.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, and I still haven’t figured out how to interact with him tonight. Obviously, I need to play it cool, but should I be my usual obnoxious, self-assured, flirtatious self? Can I even do that with him anymore without totally giving away everything I feel? Being face-to-face with him now, I’m drawing a blank.
