“I just don’t get it,” Mama said, shaking her fork at me. “You’re sleeping with the man—”
“Mama,” I said, shooting a look at the old man, who was suddenly pretending to be deaf.
“Oh please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Your daddy wasn’t born yesterday. He’s been around the block more times than all the rest of us put together. You think he don’t know what’s gonna happen with two sexy young thangs like you and Dade under the same roof together?”
I palmed my forehead, groaning. This woman’s lips were getting looser and her mind was getting softer. “Nothing is going to happen. He’s my boss.”
She clucked her tongue. “Shame on you, lyin’ to your mama. The Lord—”
“Spare me, Mama.” She was only religious when it served her point. “I don’t need to hear you preachin’ about how Ineeda man like Dade. Because I don’t. I don’t need any man.” I looked at my father, waiting for him to jump to my defense. “Ain’t that right, Daddy?”
He shrugged before taking another bite of sweet potatoes. “How the hell should I know what you need, girl? I ain’t no mind reader.”
My mouth fell open before I snapped it shut. He was always telling me that I was strong and could stand on my own two feet. That I didn’t need any of those losers wasting my time because they weren’t fit to polish my boots.
“Wait a minute.” I closed my hand around his wrist so he’d stop shoveling it in long enough to look at me. “What are you saying? You think I should pursue this thing with Dade? But you hate him. You think he uses women and—”
“Don’t you go puttin’ words in my mouth now.” He glanced at my mama, looking disgusted by the grin splitting her face.
“Did she put you up to this?” I demanded, pushing my chair back. “I know she’s desperate to get me married off, but I never thought you’d be willing to sell me to the highest bidder, Daddy.”
“That’s not what this is about.” He sighed, wiping his face with his hand. “Damn it, Charli. Me and your mama just want what’s best for you. And maybe seein’ your sister with Knox got me to thinkin’ about you and your situation.”
“Damn straight,” Mama said, shaking her head. “I couldn’t have custom ordered a better man for my baby. And you mark my words,” she said, looking at me. “That Dade is in the same class as Knox. You think they’d be thick as thieves if they were so different?”
“They’re in the same business,” I reminded her. “Doesn’t mean they’re clones. It just means they have that in common. They can relate to each other in a way few other people can.”
“Knox says he’s a good man,” Daddy grumbled. “And I trust his judgement. Your sister too,” he said, piling another scoop of the sweet potatoes on his plate. “Says he’s the salt of the earth, or some shit. Just had some bad luck with a few women, if you can call ‘em that.”
All of a sudden my daddy was defending Dade? It must be time to get my hearing checked. “I don’t get it,” I said, shaking my head. “You came over to his house all riled up ‘cause you thought he’d set out to take advantage of me. What happened to change your mind?”
“I’ve been doin’ my homework,” he said, between bites. “Lookin’ into these exes of his. They were up to no good. The whole trio.”
I closed my eyes as I rested my elbow on the table, my hand clasping my forehead. I expected to have the mother of all headaches by the time I left this house. “You know you can’t believe everything you read online, right?”
He snorted. “I’m not an idiot. But you should see these gals. Listen to these so-called interviews they do for money. Rippin’ on Dade. It’s obvious they got an axe to grind ‘cause they didn’t get all the money they thought they were entitled to. Did you know he had the two wives sign prenups and never lived with the fiancé?”
“No, we don’t talk about stuff like that.” I could care less about his financial arrangements with his exes. I knew he had plenty of money and was confident he hadn’t left them destitute. He wasn’t that kind of guy, no matter how bitter he may have been by the end of the relationship.
“I say good for him!” Mama said, slamming her hand down on the table. “Those money grubbin’ little hussies didn’t earn that money and weren’t entitled to it. He was only married to them for a couple of years.” She snorted. “Hell, I’ve got pantyhose older than that.”
“I bet you do,” I muttered. “But I don’t see how any of this is our business. Or anyone else’s, for that matter. Dade may be a celebrity, but he’s entitled to some privacy.” I was angry on his behalf, knowing that so many people felt they had the right to weigh in on his personal life.
“He traded his privacy the day he cashed that first big check,” Daddy said, reaching for his beer. “He knew what he was signin’ on for. No sense bellyachin’ about it now.”
“He’s not bellyaching about it,” I said, frowning at him. “Dade’s not the one saying it’s not right. I am.” Why was I defending this man? It’s not like he needed me to have his back when he had a whole army of people behind him.
Mama smirked. “Look at you, jumpin’ to his defense. And you’re tryin’ to tell me you got no feelings for him. I wasn’t born yesterday, hon.”
“Why are you so—”
The doorbell rang and I could have sworn my heart stopped when Mama jumped up, clapping her hands.
“Oh good, he made it!”
“Who?” When her eyes shifted to the ground, I knew. “Oh no, what did you do?” I groaned, knowing there was only one person she’d get so excited about. I side-eyed my dad as she ran to the door. “Please tell me she didn’t invite Dade here.”
He raised a broad shoulder. “You know the way she is. Once she gets an idea in her head, there’s no talkin’ her out of it.” He leaned in, whispering, “Just be glad yourbosscouldn’t make it for dinner. Said he could only stop by for coffee ‘cause he had some interview at a radio station.”
