I glanced at Jinx. His expression remained strangely masked. I could only assume that meant he knew something about it. I would have to ask him for the details later.
“It’s been on the calendar for a while,” Laikyn explained. “Before I met you, actually. She put me as her plus one, but I don’t want to go.”
“What’s the fundraiser for?”
“Mental health options for LGBTQIA+ youth. We go every year, but I usually insistshego, not the other way around.”
“Sounds like a good cause.”
“It is. That’s not the problem.” She huffed. “My mother’s the problem.”
“This Friday?” I asked Laikyn.
“Yeah.”
“She’s expecting you?”
“So.”
I glanced at Jinx. This could work to our benefit. A way to solidify that our marriage was solid and steady. Now that we were nearing the three-month point, it was imperative that we remained in the spotlight. What better way to do it than a public event that would have a nationwide impact?
Jinx obviously knew what I was angling for because he nodded his head.
I looked at Laikyn. “You need to make an appearance. If you need something to wear—”
She shook her head and sat up quickly, grabbing for the hand towel. “I already have the gown. What I don’t have is a desire to be anywhere alone with my mother.”
“You won’t be alone.”
She paused her tantrum to look at us, her eyes shifting between me and Jinx. “You’ll go with me?”
I wasn’t sure why she sounded so surprised.
“Yes.”
“You have to wear a tux.”
Based on her enthusiasm, you would think she was telling me I had to choose which limb I needed to cut off. Obviously, she knew dressing up wasn’t my favorite thing in the world, but I’d been known to do it on occasion.
“I’ll suffer through,” I assured her.
Laikyn looked at Jinx. “You have to come, too.”
Jinx’s eyebrow arched as his gaze shot to me.
“What? What’s that look for?” Laikyn asked, wiping the whipped cream off her breasts, but she didn’t attempt to cover her nudity.
“Jinx prefers quiet nights at home.”
“So do I,” she countered. “But if I have to suffer, both of you have to suffer.”
When I looked at Jinx, he gave a small shrug, which was the equivalent of leaving the decision up to me.
“Fine. We’ll both go with you.”
She smiled, then tossed the towel onto the counter. “Good.”
I watched as she started toward her bedroom. “Where are you going?” I chuckled and brought my coffee cup to my lips. “You haven’t seduced us yet.”
