I roll my eyes. It’s going to be anarranged marriage. Hardly a river of romance. And how pathetic is it that Andreas feels the need to help her find a husband because he doesn’t trust her to do it on her own?
I navigate to the Huxley & Webber site and look at the lawyers. There are three possible options for Viv: Ares, Josh and Bryce. Which one is she thinking about? And what has he done to deserve a fate worse than death? Lose an important case, maybe?
“I get shivery every time he looks at me,” Viv says, still gushing.
Karie gazes at her fondly.
I can’t stand it anymore. “What about Peter?”
It jerks her out of her reverie, which is perversely satisfying. “What about him?” It’s practically a snarl.
“I caught you in bed with him last month. You guys might’ve spent more time together since then.”
“Are youjudgingme?” Viv looks me up and down. “It isn’t like I’mmarried. I just wanted to take him out for a spin.”
I flutter my eyelashes. “You mean you just wanted him because you were jealous he was with me.”
She flinches a little before snorting. “Why would I be jealous ofyou?”
“I don’t know… Oh, wait!” I snap my fingers. “Remember that perfect LSAT?”
Viv turns bright red. Karie inhales sharply, while Nelson scowls. Mick trains his half-crazed eyes on me. “Watch what you say to my sister. I won’t tolerate your bullying her.”
I wish Andreas could see this for himself—no matter how many meals he forces on me and Nelson’s family, we will never be a true family. “Stating a fact isn’t bullying.”
“It depends on intent,” he says, his tone sharp with anger. But he won’t do more than talk, not with the staff around.
“Oh look.” I point my fork at the window. “There are clouds in the sky.”
“So?”
“What will the poor sky do, now that I’m bullying it?”
“You little bitch!” Mick slaps the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle.
“Mick.” Karie cuts her eyes to the server who’s coming over to refill our water.
He lets out a breath, all the while staring death lasers at me. Well, whatever. He made it clear a long time ago that he’d always hate me because of my mom. I’m not going to waste energy trying to earn his love and approval.
Karie turns to Nelson. “Viv needs a new car for law school. Something that will help her fit in better. How about a Lexus?”
“I prefer a Maybach,” Nelson says.
I’d prefer to leave and never come back,I think.
And then, like some divine intervention, the sky splits open and rain starts to fall. Nelson sighs—inclement weather supposedly aggravates his back pain. But big grins split Karie, Mick and Viv’s faces. They’re thrilled I’ll be driving in the rain. They probably hope I’ll get into an accident—maybe even die.
“Well—fun as this hasn’t been—I should get going before the rain gets worse.”
Nobody objects as I place my napkin on the table and get up. My sneakers squeak a little as I make a rapid escape from the miasma of elite pretension.
Outside the house the air is wet and oppressive, but I still take a deep breath of it.Thank God, freedom!
I head to my car and get in. The traffic’s going to be terrible, and I’ll spend hours sitting in it, but I don’t care. My car has comfortable seats and music. Most importantly, itdoesn’thave Nelson and company.
The engine starts with its usual reliable growl and Garbage sing, “Tell Me Where It Hurts” from the speakers. My phone rings. No caller ID, but it could be somebody from the hospital. Dr. Blum’s staff has called from unknown numbers before.
Hope flutters in my heart, tentative yet excited. Dr. Blum’s email this week was so positive.
