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“So,” my mom said, “how’s the company, Dillon?”
“Which one?” I smartly asked.
She tightened her fist and released a deep breath. Nothing my mother hated more than a smart-ass person, and that’s exactly who I’d be tonight.
“XTCL. How’s XTCL?”
“Good. But you already see Mara and my successes in the news. We’re good. You don’t need to worry about us,” I snarled, “we’re great.” With or without them, we were good. It’s been two decades without them giving a damn about us, and I’ll be damned if I let them in now.
The rest of the table was silent, and only the clatter of utensils could be heard. Azzaria just sat in confusion and shock. She didn’t know my full reasoning behind hating them, and she was uncomfortable.
“Nico, if you look at my girlfriend with that expression one more time. I’m gouging your eyes out,” I snapped. It’s bad enough that he’s here, but I don’t need him giving my girlfriend ‘seductive’ eyes.
Azzaria shot her eyes to me, and her cheeks flushed. “Are you okay, Precious?”
She nodded quickly, and I pressed my lips against hers.
“You’re such an asshole,” Nico whispered.
“Don’t call him that,” Azzaria said, looking him straight in the eye, “You can’t disrespect the person whose home you’re sitting in,” she stated and went back to eating. That’s my girl.
“He can speak for himself,” my dad spoke coldly, and I wasn’t going to stand for that. Especially not from him. The only person I hated more than my mother was my father, and that says a lot.
I brought the glass to my lips and released a low chuckle. “Now that we’re all here,” I said, clearing my throat, “Let’s be clear: Azzaria isn’t Annalise. I don’t want her compared to Annalise. Father, I heard what you told her, don’t repeat that mistake. I don’t want to know any of you. I wish we could go back to when you didn’t care, or do you care now because everything you have is thanks to me?”
He pushed his plate to the middle of the table and sat up. This was how you knew he was going to start with his nasty remarks, but I was prepared to take every one of them.
But before he could speak, my mother asked when she’d get grandchildren from me. Azzaria and I shot glances at each other, and she grabbed my thigh under the table.
“You’ll get grandchildren when he and I decide. Frankly, it’s not your business. You want grandchildren when you couldn’t even care for your own children properly? You’ve been poor parents to Dillon and Mara, which is why they’re distant. I’ve witnessed your disrespect towards them and their loved ones. Not to mention, no one’s asked about Mara, who just had a beautiful baby boy. Her postpartum? Not a word. I’m certain you secretly criticize her. My mother may not have your wealth, but she’s been a better parent than both of you.” Azzaria blurted out in Mara and my defense, and I couldn’t be prouder.
My jaw dropped. Of everything she could’ve said, I didn’t expect her to say this, but I’m glad she did, and from the way Mara was smiling, I could tell she was glad too.
Mom, usually so talkative, was unusually silent— you could hear a pin drop. Dad, on the contrary, looked ready to explode, fidgeting in his seat with murderous glares.
He released a low chuckle and drank some wine. “Speak when you are spoken to, child. Son, I’ve spoken to Ana and I think it’s time you—”
I stood up and smoothed my pants, “Don’t finish that sentence. Get out of my house,” I said, raising my voice and excusing myself from the table and went to my study.
These constant jabs at my trauma were taking a toll on my health. They’ve pushed it far enough with the children discussion, and my father just doesn’t understand that I want nothing to do with Annalise. I didn’t have to look at Azzaria to tell she was upset.
I could hear them arguing in the background with Mara, but right now, I needed to find my EVZIO. It’s been a while, but I had to have it, or I’d lose it.
I rumbled through my right-side drawers and couldn’t find it. What else was planning on going wrong today? The left-side drawers were empty, only consisting of stationary, and those weren’t useful to me. I made my way to the bedroom closet and went through my box of shoes.
It wasn’t something I’d leave lying around, especially because I knew Azzaria would freak out if she saw them.
“Where the fuck is it?” I groaned in frustration and threw a pair of shoes at the wall. The feeling running through my bones right now is fury. Between them at the table and me not being able to find this, I’m just irritated.
This is pointless. I got up from the ground and made my way to my bedroom. If it wasn’t in my nightstand drawer, then I didn’t know where I put it.
Thank God. As I opened the top one, there it was. EVZIO, otherwise known as what got me through the last few years of my life.
“Baby, what’s that?”
I put the device between my thighs and cleared my throat. “Are they gone?”
“Don’t ignore my question and no, they’re talking to Mara. What are you hiding?” Her eyes grew dark and she looked unsettled.
