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Dani examines the veggie tray and dumps a few more cherry tomatoes into the mix. “It’s not. But ever since Gage and I got married she’s been making an effort.”
“What’s that look like?”
“Uncomfortable.”
I dry my hands on a dishtowel. “Is everyone here?”
“Tess is coming. Didn’t I tell you that? Be nice to her. I mean it.”
“I’ll try.”
She pokes a finger in my chest. “Do more than try. Her father’s damn campaign is taking a toll on her. She’s stressed enough as it is.”
Funny. I think I know just how to un-stress her.
The doorbell rings. Dani lets me take the veggie tray from her hands and carry it out to the living room where there’s a long table packed with food.
Matilda opens the door and in walks Tess Ballerini with a bottle of wine. “From the Silverton Winery up by Lake Poppy.”
“Ooh.” Matilda steals it from her hands and scans the label. “The 2015 Merlot, one of my favorites. Henley, sweetheart, would you mind opening this?” She passes the bottle to her husband, who does what he’s told like always.
Charlotte is excited to show off Total and Tess makes a fuss over the puppy, crouching on the floor to scratch his ears. Charlotte tries to persuade Total to perform tricks but the dog only sniffs and turns in circles like he’s picking out the next place he’d like to urinate.
“Outside.” Matilda snaps her fingers. “Charlotte, take the dog outside.”
Tess straightens up and finally glances in my direction. I could swear she blushes.
I have to admit, the fantasy Tess who has been living in my head all week and doing filthy things at my command isn’t as good as the real version.
She went to some trouble tonight, wearing more makeup than usual and a blue party dress that’s a sexy step up from her usual librarian-inspired wardrobe. Her dark hair is loose and bouncy, falling past her shoulders, just the way I like it.
Dani seizes Tess for a hug while Gage opens up the long glass slider to the back patio. They’ve got a hell of a setup out there with a retractable big screen and a giant stone fireplace.
I stand by the buffet table and say nothing because that’s what I would normally do. Don’t want to raise any red flags.
“Looks like I overdressed.” Tess’s eyes keep cutting to me.
I stare back at her.
It’s true that everyone else wears comfortable game day clothes. Even Matilda is semi-casual in a pink and white football jersey with jeans and pink heels.
Meanwhile, Tess looks like she got lost on her way to host a cocktail party. Not that I’ll be complaining about a view of her legs. That will give me something to think about during commercials.
Matilda is now grilling Tess about the campaign. I guess that’s her right, considering she’s got a lot invested. I have a feeling I’d laugh if I knew the exact dollar amount my mother had funneled to Stuart Ballerini’s power quest. I’m sure she’s salivating over the thought of how good it will be for business once she has the city mayor tucked away in her custom designed handbag. There’s hardly a corner of downtown Em City that doesn’t have Yellow Brick fingerprints on it and I know she’s got her eye on gobbling up more.
Henley returns with the open wine bottle. He seems stupidly proud of himself for being useful. Matilda sends him back to the kitchen to retrieve glasses.
Matilda now has a grip on Tess’s arm and drags her my way. “You are such a credit to your father. And what a beauty. I cannotbelieveyou are still single. Micah, can you believe our Tess is still single?”
Ah, this old game.
The‘Don’t You Think Tess Is Pretty?’ skit that was acted out countless times throughout my adolescence. Matilda openly wished I’d take an interest in Tess, thinking some of Tess’s hypercompliant energy might rub off on me.
Of course I could see that she was pretty. I’m not fucking blind. Tess was always one of the best looking girls at West Emerald Prep.
“No, I can’t believe Tess is still single.”
I don’t mean to sound like a dick but now that I’m hearing the words out loud I sound exactly like a dick.
