Page 119 of Nobody's Girl

Kel nodded then looked at Cait. “And yours? How was it, Cait?”

“Kind of dreamy. Kind of out of this world,” she said, then leaned over and kissed Phoenix on the cheek. “We’re going out for drinks after dinner tonight.”

Ethan’s frown was noticed by Cait and Jess as he looked at Phoenix. “Is that so? Kel, would you like to go out for drinks too, my love?”

“No, thank you,” Kel answered, making Ethan’s frown grow.

“What? Why not?” he asked her.

“An early morning is why.” She cupped his face in her hands. “Why? Are you going to miss me, Ethan?”

“Yes,” he said then leaned in close. “Maybe you and I could go to bed early. In our own hotel room.”

She patted his leg as she shook her head. “I don’t think so, Ethan.” Then she took the big sisterly approach with her errant middle sister. “Cait, you too have classes early in the morning. Perhaps you should think about canceling the drinks tonight. Dinner will be over around nine or so, and that’s plenty late enough. You’ve spent the entire day together as it is.”

Cait wanted to spend more time with Phoenix, but she saw how Jess was with Griffin, and it made her feel that big sister responsibility that coursed through her too. “I think you’re right. Sorry, Phoenix, maybe another time.”

Phoenix was crushed, in more ways than one. Sure, he’d thought he was about to win the bet, but he’d also really wanted to spend more time with Cait. “Aww, Caity-cat, come on. Just one drink, please.”

With a sigh, Cait said, “No, sorry.”

Jess got up and led Griffin into the house without saying a word to anyone. Kel and Cait were more than a bit worried about her and followed quickly. “Dinner’s most likely ready; come on,” Kel said as she got up and pulled Ethan to go with her.

Ethan and Phoenix exchanged worried glances as they went inside the house. It was their third night there, and it looked as if none of them would be scoring that night, either.

They found Jess and Griffin in the kitchen getting themselves two more beers and going to the dining room. Kel and Cait grew more worried about Jess and grabbed another bottle of wine, taking it to the dining room. There they found their parents and younger brother, Alex, sitting at the table.

“Finally,” their father said. “We’ve been waitin’ on you all.”

“You could’ve called us,” Kel said. “We were all in the backyard.”

“You were told when dinner would be served,” their father said. “Are ya thinkin’ me and your mother are your servants? Just because these men spoiled your arses today doesn’t mean we’ll be continuing to do that tonight. And I do hope all of you girls remember that you have school early in the morning and we expect you to get to your classes. We don’t spend almost all the money we make on your education for you to skip classes.”

“You pay for them to go to college, Mr. Flannigan?” Griffin asked as he eyed the nasty blob of gray that was sitting on top of a mountain of mashed potatoes.

“I do,” their father said. “I’m in debt up to my eyeballs with all three of the girls in college. Alex is going next year, and that debt will only mount.”

Griffin looked at Jess as she watched her plate and her cheeks were a shade of pink that told him she was embarrassed. He nudged her with his knee under the table as he smiled and said, “What a noble father you have there, Jess. You must be proud to call him your dad.”

Jess was feeling anything but proud at that moment.

Why did her father have to air their financial burdens to everyone?

“Of course I’m proud of him. If it weren’t for his hard work then we’d have nothing,” Jess said.

Kel, Cait, and Alex all mumbled agreements, but all felt embarrassed by what he’d said in front of the men too. Mrs. Flannigan gestured to the haggis that sat on the platter in the middle of the large table. “Don’t be shy. Get to making your plates.”

Phoenix stared at the unappetizing ball of yuck that sat on an orange platter which did absolutely nothing to make it appear any tastier. The mashed potatoes were about all he’d eat, so he took the spoon that was standing up in them and put some on his plate.

Cait gave him a nod. “Can you put some on mine too?”

Ethan took the knife that was stuck in the haggis and cut it open. The smell that was released had Phoenix holding back a gag. Griffin was trying to psych himself up to eat the food. He’d had mountain oysters on many occasions.

Ethan cut a wedge out and nudged Kel as he said, “Can you grab your father’s plate so I can serve this to him, love?”

Kel smiled as she reached over to get her father’s plate. Her dad was sitting back without a smile on his face. Once Ethan had filled the plate with the haggis and mashed potatoes, Kel placed it in front of her father, who said, “Thank you.” He then took his wife’s plate and handed it to Kel. “Now for your mom’s.”

Kel wasn’t surprised that Ethan had such good manners. If he hadn’t been a damn liar, she’d have been proud to call him hers. But he was a liar. A gambling liar, who only wanted her for one thing.