Felicity’s eyes narrow. “It’s weird to hear you laugh.”
“I’m just wondering what you’d teach, Alex,” I say.
“Theater, obviously. Or maybe philosophy. Molding young minds.”
“God help them,” Felicity mutters.
The front door swings open, and Paxton strides in sans his wife.Typical.Tiffany rarely shows up to family events, although I’m hardly one to talk. The only reason I’m here is because I’ve been a shit brother, and I promised Juliette I’d try harder.
But it’s difficult, living this double life, doing what I do and then showing up with a smile like everything is fine.
Paxton’s suit is immaculate, his black hair perfectly styled, and he’s got that expression he always wears that makes it seem like he’s inconvenienced by everyone’s existence.
“You’re late,” Juliette says.
“I’m the owner; I’m never late.” He pulls out a chair and drops into it.
“I’ll have a gin martini,” he tells the server. “Dirty.”
“Like your—” Felicity starts.
“Who invited you?” Paxton cuts her off, cocking his head as he stares at her.
Felicity’s smile doesn’t waver, but her eyes sharpen, the way they have since we were kids, and Paxton would smack her forehead and call herFlick.
“I did,” Alex says, throwing an arm around the back of Felicity’s chair and pulling her to his side. “Respect my future wife, Pax. Fee’s family.”
“She really isn’t,” he replies.
“She shows up more than some people,” Juliette says, her eyes cutting to me.
And there it is.
I sigh, cracking my knuckles.
“How is everyone?” Paxton asks.
“Fantastic,” Alex drawls. “We were just discussing my artistic evolution.”
“Were you? How fascinating.”
“God, you’re a cliché,” Felicity says.
Paxton takes a sip of his drink. “Manners, Felicity. They matter.”
“I have wonderful manners, Golden Boy. I just choose not to waste them on people who don’t deserve them.”
Paxton frowns.
I groan, already tired of my family’s antics, when I could be doing literally anything else.
Juliette kicks me under the table, and I jolt.
“Ow, what the fuck, Jules?”
“What the hell isyourproblem?” she snaps.
“Probably the bodily injury you just gave me.”
