“So, when I was desperate for money, you didn’t offer up this windfall,” Dream said to Dad. “But now that Luna’s getting older, probably also thinking of buying her first place, suddenly it’s on the table?”
“It’s on the table because your mother saw that Zillow listing, Dream,” Dad stated firmly. “And I should say, yours will have the money you owe us and what you owe Luna deducted from it.”
The amount of that was nearly ten grand, which would really put a crimp in her windfall for a down payment on a house.
“Scott, we decided—” Mom started.
“Well, I changed my mind,” Dad clipped.
“It’s our money,” Mom retorted.
“Yes, as it was our money we loaned our daughter when she started popping out kids and she didn’t have a goddamned job,” Dad shot back.
Dream’s face got red.
Mom’s face got upset.
My mouth opened.
“Stop it!” I shouted.
Everyone looked at me.
“Oh my God. Yeah, she did that, Dad,” I hissed to my father. “And we talked to her about it as a family. Now she runs two businesses and waitresses on the weekend. Look at her.” I threw my hand across the table. “She’s losing weight. And she kicks up a fuss when anyone offers to help because we made such a big deal about it before. She got the message. Back off.”
Dad shut up.
Mom stared at me.
Knox studied me.
And, holy crap, Dream looked like she was about to cry.
Then she said, “I’m trying to lose weight, Luna.”
“Oh,” I mumbled.
“But thanks for noticing,” she went on.
“Well, if that’s what you want, you’re doing a good job,” I said.
“You think I look rundown,” she accused.
“I thought you looked tired the other day. Because maybe you were tired. And with the weight loss tacked on, I made an assumption. It wasn’t an insult.”
“Whatever,” she muttered to her pasta.
“Byron at The Surf Club wants me to set you two up on a date,” I blurted.
Knox made a noise in his throat.
Mom chirped, “Who’s this?”
“Byron,” I answered. “He’s a regular at SC.” I looked at Dream. “Since I wasn’t going to set my sister up with some dude I know but don’t really know, I made him state his case. His car is paid off. He takes out the trash without being asked. He likes kids. And he thinks you’re pretty.”
Holy cow.
Was Dream blushing?
