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“No, but they’ll be pretty busy with the guests. Don’t worry, Bishop. This isn’t a meet-the-parents kind of thing.”
“But they’ll be there,” I say. “Right? Your parents will be there?”
“Yes.”
I lean back in my seat. “Oh.”
“Too much?”
“No, I can do it.” I think of my former parents-in-law and of judgmental looks and tests phrased as get-to-know-you questions. “What have you told them about me?”
“Nothing,” he says. “We can use the tennis-meet story, if they ask. I don’t think they will.” He looks over at me, and there are frown lines between his dark eyebrows. “Don’t worry, Sophia. I’d never bring you into a situation where I thought you’d be uncomfortable.”
Somehow, I believe that. “Thank you.”
“I should probably tell you what the event is, too.”
“I’d appreciate that,” I say and aim for a teasing note in my voice. “If you’re bringing me to an impromptu wedding, I’ll be very upset.”
“No one’s getting married that I know of.”
“No ritual sacrifice? I left my goat at home.”
“Not that, either.” His voice is smooth, but there’s a tension about him that wasn’t there a few minutes ago. “It’s a summer party for a charity.”
“Another benefit?”
“Of a kind,” he says. “There’s a door fee, and every penny will go to a foundation for the blind and vision-impaired.”
“That’s beautiful,” I say.
“I’ll cover our door fees,” he says.
“I’d be happy to—”
“I invited you. Besides, it’s already been paid.” He takes a breath. “My younger brother is losing his eyesight.”
“Oh my God, Isaac. I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah. It’s… yeah. It is what it is.”
“I didn’t know that,” I say.
He shakes his head. “It’s not something he discusses with people outside of the family.”
“I see.”
“Not that it’s a secret, exactly, but…”
“I understand,” I say, because I do. “It’s not something I’ll talk about.”
“Thanks.”
“Your brother doesn’t usually go to events, right? Like the benefit, or any of the country clubs?”
Isaac chuckles. “Hell no. He stopped going to them at the same time we both grew out of the open bar fascination.”
“So, no Winter wingman for you?”
