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“You should follow Cassidy’s example,” Mr. Pruitt scolded.
“Too bad that Cassidy bounced with some guy and Rylan had to bring her home when she took Beth out. That’s real nice, all right. ”
Beth swallowed uneasily. “Cassidy asked me if I was fine with Rylan driving me here and Pierce said we’d hang out in town next week,” she interjected.
Mr. Pruitt grimaced at Pierce, and Mrs. Pruitt placed her hand over his. “You need to be careful. Did Pierce even know the guy that you were with?” Mrs. Pruitt asked, the alarm in her voice evident.
“No, I didn’t know who the guy was,” Pierce interjected. “I had a gathering at my penthouse and Cassidy invited all these people I didn’t know.”
“Are you guys done attacking me?” Cassidy dramatically shot up from the chair and stalked off. Even Nancy couldn’t refrain from rolling her eyes.
“Get back here!” Mrs. Pruitt shouted. Beth rested her hand on my thigh. She was trying to be supportive, but she didn’t know yet that it was best for her to stay out of their disagreements. This was the second time I’d seen the Pruitts have an argument. Minutes passed by and Cassidy returned to the table with a sulky expression. “We’ll have a talk later, young lady. And you’re not going out tonight. I don’t care that you’re twenty-two. When you act like a brat in our household, we’ll treat you like one.” She waved her hand at Cassidy’s meal. “Now finish your dinner.”
“Perhaps if you weren’t off with that girl, you would’ve kept an eye on your sister. She’s older but you’re her brother,” Mr. Pruitt remarked.
“Lay off me, would you?” Pierce stopped eating and pushed his chair back. “I do my best. She needs to be responsible for herself. And while you don’t like Mona—she has a name—I go to work and put in 110 percent. What I do during my free time is my business.” He rose from the table. “Sorry, Mom…Nancy.” He was quiet for a beat. “Dinner was delicious.” He acknowledged Beth and I with a rueful look before he was gone.
“Pierce has a point,” we heard Mrs. Pruitt softly tell her husband, but he wouldn’t hear it.
“Debbie, his point was that he’s not willing to protect his sister while I work my butt off to do right by this family.”
***
Pierce’s jaw was tight and his usually fair complexion was flushed from frustration and hurt that he’d never acknowledge. I didn’t think I’d seen Pierce this upset since Mr. Pruitt had told him that he’d have to pay rent. Pierce had been trying to get his own place for the summer, but rent was really expensive. Most places had wanted him to sign a six-month lease. At his parents’ house, his room was size of a small apartment. The only thing that each room didn’t have was its own kitchen. It was hard to resist nice living quarters; however, he liked being around Nancy and his mom more than he cared about having a spacious room.
I excused myself and went after him. Mrs. Pruitt thanked me and Mr. Pruitt finished eating his dinner. And Cassidy had had a shit-eating look on her face. I’d texted Beth and told her not to worry. I didn’t want Cassidy to involve Beth in her antics or to be manipulated by her. I knew that I was the outsider, but I didn’t think Beth had any idea that Cassidy would’ve handed her over to any guy she knew so that she could have private fun. Cassidy didn’t care about Beth and I didn’t have the heart to tell her to be mindful of her cousin. How would I look? Like an asshole who was trying to mess up her relationship with her family.
Emilio, one of the waiters/bartenders, served Pierce a mug of beer on the house. “Women troubles?” he asked.
Pierce gulped down almost half of the thick beer and set the mug back on the counter as he heaved in a breath. “No. Just my know-it-all dad.”
“That sucks,” Emilio said. “It’ll blow over. And then you two will butt heads again.”
Pierce nodded and drained the rest of his beer. “Yeah. Same shit. Different day. Thanks for the beer, Emilio.”
Emilio took the mug and greeted new customers.
Joel and Rylan came in by themselves, which I think was best because Pierce didn’t seem like he was in the mood to be courteous to their lady friends.
“What’s up, Joel?” I raised my chin to him. “Rylan.” We bumped fists as he sat by me and Joel convinced some girl to sit on the other side of the counter.
“Chase.” A deep line creased over Joel’s forehead as he eyed Pierce warily. “You must be real pissed to drive all the way over here.”
“I was.” Pierce raised his shoulders indifferently. “What do you guys wanna drink?” He looked at us.
“Get me a black Russi
an,” Rylan answered.
“Light beer,” Joel said.
“I’ll stick with another club soda and lime,” I told Emilio, who huffed out a laugh at Pierce’s disappointed frown.
“We’ll have scotch on the rocks some other time. Tonight, I’ll be your designated driver.”
Pierce conceded with the tilt of his head. “On second thought, I am not gonna drown myself in beer tonight. Dad would expect me to fuck up, cause a scene, and have to be driven home. One more beer and I am done.”
Joel gave Pierce’s back a light slap. “Good thinkin’.” He cleared his throat. “The girl with the strapless dress has been lookin’ at you. You gonna dance with her?”
