Page 38 of Dopplebanger

Another snort.

“I can take care of myself. I’m doing really well out in Raleigh.” She looked at me like she wanted… confirmation?

“She’s great at her job. Offloads a lot of animal product.”Shit. That’s not what I should’ve said.How could I even think about being a lawyer if I couldn’t hold up under interrogation myself?

Gwen simply laughed, though, the sound making my blundering answer better, even if it didn’t lighten the mood. “Evan taught me to change a tire, too.” She bumped her shoulder into me. “He’s teaching me lots of things.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” her dad muttered, undoubtedly recalling the make out session he’d interrupted.

I rubbed my palms down my jeans.

Gwen reached under the table and gave my knee a quick squeeze. “He’s going to be a lawyer, and when we went to the Lincoln Memorial today, he impressed me by reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory.”

Please don’t ask me to recite it.If asked now, about all that would come out of my mouth isuhhhhh…. I suck and I know I’m not good enough for your daughter, and if she didn’t need me tomorrow, there’d be an Ethan-shaped hole in the wall.

Of course Gwen would call it an Evan-shaped hole.

Man, I do suck. No wonder he wants to kill me.

Mr. Cosgrave placed his elbows on the table and fisted his hands under his chin, his fork still gripped in one of them and at the ready. “I thought your father was a lawyer and you just worked for him.”

“Dad, Evan’s not on trial.”

“It’s fine,” I said. At least this much I could handle. “My father is a lawyer. I’m planning on following in his footsteps.”

“Then you better get off your ass and get started.”

“Clive!” her mom scolded.

A laugh escaped my lips. “That’s exactly what Gwen told me.”

That reduced the stern glare by about an ounce. “She’s a smart girl.”

I dared to take her hand. “She is. It’s one of my favorite things about her. Her love of lighthouses on the other hand… Well, I’m trying to deal with that.”

“Says the guy who forced me onto a carnival ride!”

And the scowl was back on her father’s face. I lowered my voice so only Gwen could hear. “Maybe let’s not use the word ‘force.’ And after the hotel incident, I feel like I should probably advise against ‘take advantage of.’”

Gwen giggled and tightened her grip on our entwined hands. “Wow, you already sound like a lawyer.”

Mr. Cosgrave piled more potatoes on his plate, never taking his eyes off me. “You know the Bar’s hard to pass. People who’ve been set on being lawyers all their lives fail it.”

I really wished I could tell him I’d already passed it. Not only so he’d stop giving me the third-degree, but after all the work I’d put in, and because it was as hard to pass as he said and then some, I pretty much wanted to announce it to everyone. Gwen. Her parents. Strangers on the street.

“I have no fear that when Evan’s ready, he’ll pass with flying colors, and that’s about enough of that talk.” Her voice hit a no-nonsense tone I hadn’t heard before, and the surprised expression on her dad’s face made me think he hadn’t either. Then her easy grin and happy demeanor was back in a flash. “Thanks for the amazing dinner, Mom.”

After eating nothing but junk food since our continental breakfast, which I’d decided must be one continent where they were stingy with their dried-out pastries, this dinner tasted even more amazing.

“I hope it’s not too cold,” Mrs. Cosgrave said. “We expected you sooner.”

Just when I thought we’d escaped all the scrutiny and tenseness. I understood the hint of disappointment, since the woman clearly missed her daughter, but the hint of remorse in Gwen’s features scraped at me. “Sorry, that’s my fault, Mrs. Cosgrave. I insisted on stopping at D.C. and Gwen took me by the Department of Justice building.”

“I also insisted on stopping in D.C., and Evan’s being nice. I slept in this morning.”

“Well, you needed it after your allergy attack,” I added.

Forks clattered against plates and dinner came screeching to a halt.

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