Page 19 of You Fall First

“Yeah, well,” Dex grumbles. “I kind of hate it for you, man.”

There’s a tick of silence. Then across the table, Maggie pipes up. “If we’re done playing Cupid, can we please circle back to Dex getting Jojo a nepo job at Stony Peak?”

“I don’t need Dex to get me a job,” Jo announces, picking her fork back up. “I was offered a position just yesterday.”

Maggie’s eyes go wide. “Where? Doing what?”

“I’m going to be a server.” Jo squares her shoulders. “At … Mockingbird.”

“Tequila Mockingbird?” Maggie’s face screws up like she just sucked a lemon. “The bar?”

“I prefer to think of Mockingbird as a social establishment.”

“With the word tequila in the name.”

“It’s a literary play on words, Mom. Cocktails are only a part of their menu. And it’s not like I’ll be getting drunk on the job.”

Maggie folds her hands. “If you like literature so much, why not apply at the library?”

“I did,” Jo says, her voice sounding a bit strangled now. “And Book Smart and In Bloom and Catty’s Coffee. Nobody’s hiring, Mom, and I need money. Like, immediately.”

“How immediately?” Landry asks.

“Don’t worry. My training starts at the end of the month, so there won’t be any overlap with the wedding.”

Lewis leans over his plate. “What’s the big rush all of a sudden?”

“I’m moving out.” Jo gulps. “As soon as possible.”

Maggie blinks. “What? Why?”

“I need the parmesan,” Kendal says, reaching for the ramekin of cheese and knocking over her half-filled water glass. “Whoops!” She leaps to her feet, snatching up napkins to mop up the mess. At the same time, she makes pointed eye contact with Landry across the table. Kendal frowns.

Landry squints.

Kendal’s eyes bulge.

Landry nods, glances at Jo.

It’s like I’m witnessing some kind of secret conversation.

A special sibling language?

I can get behind that.

“Speaking of the wedding,” Landry blurts. “I have some news.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Jo says under her breath.

Kendal drops back into her seat, pushing sodden napkins into a pile on the high chair tray. “Wedding news? That sounds exciting, Lan. Tell us more.”

My gaze darts between the sisters, finally picking up on what’s just happened. I think Kendal sent a bat signal to Landry, suggesting a change of subject because Jo was in distress. Now that I think about it, Kendal spilling her water was probably the original diversionary tactic. These two just saved their little sister.

Man. I like these women.

“So what’s going on?” Sayla asks. “Inquiring bridesmaids want to know.”

“It’s about catering for the reception.”