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“Well, can you explain it? Because ‘it was a joke’ seems to be your fallback line when you know you can’t back up something you said,” I remarked, faking a good-natured chuckle to throw everyone off.
Charlie raised his eyebrows at me. It was the look he gave before he launched into some ball busting but tonight, nothing followed. He simply looked at me another second, frowned into his Scotch then stayed quiet for the next few minutes of conversation, which eventually veered to the topic of Aly’s restaurant.
“Argh, my friends have all been! But I haven’t yet because Julian keeps waiting for a day when we can go with Emmett,” Sara said. “But I have seriously been craving a lobster roll like no other.” She made everyone laugh when she rubbed her belly. “I think baby’s got fancy taste. Like Daddy.”
“Pretty sure that’s all you,” Julian snorted, kissing the top of Sara’s head as Mom started scrolling through her phone.
“You know what I want? I’m trying to find the picture of that Bloody Mary you have, Aly. I saw it on this food website, and I took a screenshot, but where did it go?” she wondered, talking to herself at this point. “The Hail Mary – that’s what you’re famous for right?”
“Well, it’s definitely that and the lobster roll,” Aly grinned. “They’re definitely the two most popular – ”
“Thank Emmett for that one,” Charlie boomed. “You said he saved her liquor license, right?” he asked Donna before jabbing a finger at Aly. “Well, thank God for that, or you would’ve lost all your business.”
Jesus Christ.
“Easy,” Julian muttered, sensing my rage.
“We’ve been out of the drink before,” Aly said. “And we still survived.”
“Yeah, for one day, sure. But the whole summer? Kiss that restaurant goodbye. Just like I told ya.”
The discomfort was palpable all around. I could feel it in the air but I watched Aly give a placid smile and hit right back.
“Dad, we all know you though the restaurant was a bad idea, but it’s been kicking ass this whole summer, and it’s the food, not the liquor sales that have been driving so much business back to the warehouse. So lay off a bit, huh?” she grinned. “‘Cause ya seem a little jealous.”
She topped off her burn with an innocent little shrug, like she was just playing around. I heard Julian’s snort just as I broke into a huge smile, because we both knew well that Aly had just turned the tables to give her dad a taste of his own medicine. As everyone laughed at her “ball busting,” Charlie tried to play it off. He was visibly embarrassed and fuming, but thanks to his ego, he wouldn’t say a word. He knew he’d come off looking sensitive and wounded and all the things he used to get on others for, so he just stood there in front of everyone – burning red and pretending to be fine the way he always forced Aly to do as a kid.
It was pretty satisfying to watch.
ALY: Oh God
ALY: Is it terrible that that was exhilarating?
I got Aly’s texts a little after Julian and I were pulled away by John to meet some guests. I smirked, looking up to find Aly at our table with Sara. I shook my head no but still sent a text back.
ME: That was fucking awesome. I hope it felt as good to say as it felt for us to hear.
ALY: Absofuckinglutely
ALY: My heart’s still beating kind of fast
ALY: But anyway go do your thing! I’ll find you later
The last text took awhile for her to type up, but then it finally sent.
ALY: Love you
I grinned at the two words, returning them and peering up at her reaction before I returned to John and the guests.
Thankfully though, Julian had pretty much taken over the conversation at this point. It was honestly what I preferred, so after another ten or so minutes, I dipped out to try and find Aly, but she and Sara were MIA, so I assumed they were in the bathroom and started toward Mom and Donna’s table.
But on my way there, from the corner of my eye, I noticed Charlie sulking solo from the bar to the doors.
“Leaving?” I caught up to him smoothly. “Should I get Donna?”
He stopped on the second step and looked across the room at his wife. He made a face that said I don’t care before he looked at me.
“Hey, I thought of a funny joke before,” he said.
