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“Why not? We haven’t eaten. Sounds like perfect timing.” My dad flashes one of his characteristic smiles.
“I don’t think there’s going to be enough food.”
“Oh, honey. Wren works at a bar, you know. She always knows how to scrounge something up. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” My mother dismisses me as they make their way down the hall. She still can’t seem to grasp the concept that Wren owns the bars she supposedly works at.
“Wren! Your mother and father-in-law are here!” I call down the hall, hoping that the two seconds of warning mightmean something. Especially if East and Quentin have started to make their way back in.
I hurry behind them, rounding the corner just as they do and making a face of panic at Wren when she blankly stares at our visitors.
“Oh. Hi, Donna. Hi, Kenneth. I wasn’t expecting you to visit.”
“Well, we were going to be in town anyway, you know.” My mother laughs.
“If I can’t come a day early to see my children, then what am I doing? I run that fucking team. Least they can do is let me come a day early. Plenty of other coaches to take the plane tomorrow morning, and I’ll be there waiting to kick their asses when they arrive.” My dad chuckles to himself before he looks at me.
“Oh, well that’s nice. Are you staying downtown?” Wren asks because the bigger skill that owning a bar has given Wren is the ability to have casual conversations with almost anyone. Even the biggest assholes.
“Yes. Got the penthouse suite. Has a nice view. Though the Ohio River isn’t exactly Lake Michigan, you know.” My mother flashes another perfectly white smile, and I cringe.
“Well, that’s true. It has its charms though.”
“Definitely not that chili. We tried it for lunch. I can’t understand why people fucking like it around here,” my dad grouches.
“Well, don’t worry. I think we have enough for everyone. We’re just having salads and burgers though. I hope that’s all right for you.”
“Oh, yes. I love all that bar-food stuff you make,” my mother answers.
“Bar-food stuff? You know they have burgers in some of the fanciest restaurants now. Some are hundreds of dollars depending on the grade of meat and the toppings.”
“Oh, are we getting hundred-dollar burgers?” My dad laughs.
“No, but you also weren’t invited to dinner,” I snap.
My dad’s face darkens, and I hear Wren clap her hands together. “We finished the den we were working on the last time you guys were here. Did you want to see it? East had the contractor put in a gorgeous built-in table and bookshelves.”
“Oh, yes. I’d love to see it!” My mom flashes me a look from behind my father’s shoulder, telling me I should shut my mouth before I make things uncomfortable for them.
“Yes. I’d love to see what you’ve been working on. East has put so much work into this house, always nice to see the progress.” My father’s distracted from my mouthing off and disappears down the hall behind them.
I check on the sauce for the mac and cheese Wren has going on the stove and then turn my eyes to the guys. They’ve disappeared and even when I lean on the windowsill I can’t see them anywhere in the backyard. I turn up the hallway, dodging past the side hall my parents went down and try to see if they’ve gone out by the cottage or somewhere else. I need to warn them. Need to get Quentin out of here because none of this will end well if my father sees how cozy we’ve all become. Even if he doesn’t know quite how cozy.
I’ve nearly reached the side door when it opens and the guys come busting in, laughing, and chatting loudly about whatever they were doing outside. It warms my heart for half a second to see my brother and Quentin so close. Right up until I feel the swell of panic. I start to open my mouth to speak, but Quentin spots me and grins brightly at my appearance.
“Oh fuck. You look so domestic in that apron, Madness.” He closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me, kissing me. I kiss him back for half a second and then try to tug him into the guest bathroom. But it’s too late. Wren’s tour hasapparently ended and my father is standing at the other side of the hall.
“Was pretty clear I didn’t ever want to see your hands on my daughter again.”
“Fuckkkkk…” East grumbles and rubs a hand over his mouth. He steps out in front of Quentin, making himself a human barricade.
I feel Quentin’s entire body tense up, and his eyes open, staring at me.
“Surprise,” I whisper.
Quentin starts to pull away from me like he wants to protect me from the ensuing fight, but I grab his hand, threading my fingers through his. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together. He squeezes my hand in recognition, knowing exactly why I’m doing it.
“Your daughter is a grown woman.”
“Who had a boyfriend. A respectable one who she’s been seeing for months.”
