Page 180 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I’ll tell her later. Maybe in a couple of months so it doesn’t feel too soon.

“Damn, you two. Get a room,” Matteo says as he walks up to us.

I roll my eyes and greet him. A second later, Alessia comes over. Lucy thanks her for all the work she did tracking down her dad’s family in Montreal.

“Hey, where’s your sister?” Alessia asks me.

“She should be here.” I glance around the restaurant, but I don’t see Zoey.

I check my phone to see if she texted me that she’s running late, but I don’t see a message from her.

A few minutes later, she walks into the restaurant with Jeff.

“Oh, there she is…” I trail off when I see the look on my sister’s face.

She’s frowning like she’s upset and sad. And then I see how red her eyes are. She looks like she’s been crying.

Jeff’s a step behind her. He’s frowning too, but he looks mad.

What the hell? Are they fighting again?

I watch as Jeff says something to her. Zoey closes her eyes and takes a breath, like she’s exhausted but trying to be patient.

She turns to him, and they talk. I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying through all the surrounding conversation and laughter, but I can tell it’s not a happy conversation. She looks tired and sad and annoyed. He looks pissed.

Protectiveness spikes up inside of me. I don’t like the way he’s looking at her. Or the way he’s talking to her. It’s borderline aggressive.

They both disappear down the hallway, toward the bathrooms. I tense up and head in that direction without thinking.

I don’t normally do this. I don’t follow my sister and her boyfriend around. But something is off between them tonight, and I can’t just stand back and do nothing.

I head down the darkened hallway, but they’re not there. I look around and see the back door. Did they leave?

I push it open and step out onto the alley behind the restaurant. And then I hear my sister’s voice.

“I told you, Jeff. It’s not what you think. He’s my boss. He owns the daycare. He gets all of the staff members a gift for Christmas.”

“Come on, Zoey. Are you really that much of a fucking idiot?” Jeff snaps.

Anger blasts through my bloodstream. What the hell? Why is he talking to my sister like that?

I head down to the end of the alley that faces the busy street where cars are driving by and people are walking along the sidewalk. They’re more than a dozen feet away from me and don’t notice me. But I can see them. I can hear them.

“Your boss got you a bunch of bath stuff. You know what that means, right? It means he has the hots for you. He’s picturing you naked in the shower, touching your body.” Jeff’s voice is hard and angry. He steps forward, cornering my sister against the alley wall.

“You’re being ridiculous.” She tries to step around him, but he blocks her with his body.

“I know you’re fucking him.” His tone is just under a shout now.

“Jeff. You know I’m not.” Her tone is so patient.

“Bullshit. You are.”

She closes her eyes and takes a breath. “I’m not. I’ve told you that so many times.”

“I don’t fucking believe you.”

She shakes her head. “I know you don’t. And because you don’t trust me, I don’t have a job anymore. So why do you keep bringing this up?” Her voice shakes, like she’s trying not to cry.