Page 69 of Show Off

Lauren grins. “If by ‘reassure’ you mean ‘hand job,’ that sounds like a plan.”

Mari pretends she’s appalled, but the quirk of her lip gives her away. “You may as well keep him company,” she says, shifting Sawyer on her hip. “It’s not often a chef gets two whole evenings off in a row. Maybe pay him a visit.”

“And while you’re at it, skip the bra.” Lauren laughs at Mari’s scandalized look. “Just trying to be helpful.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. “I’ll consider stopping by.”

“Unless Mom grounds you for choosing the wrong dress,” Mari points out.

“Go home,” I mutter, though I desperately want them to stay. Without my sisters here, it’s a matter of minutes before Mom moves in on me. “Unless you want more coffee?”

Mari pulls me in for a one-armed hug. “I have to get this little guy over to his papa.” She waits while I smooch Sawyer on his bald little head. “They’re doing ‘Daddy and Me’ story time at the bookstore.”

“Have fun, sweetie.” I smooch little Sawyer one more time as he tries to grab my hair. “How about you, Lauren?” I turn to my oldest sister as Mari troops out the door. “Coffee?”

Lauren folds her arms. “Are you finally banging Dal while his brother’s out of town?”

“So that’s a no on the coffee?” I somehow manage not to blush or flinch. As far as she knows, her quip has no effect on me as I stride for the kitchen like a well-composed grownup. “I’m having some.”

“You forget I changed your diaper.” Lauren follows me into the kitchen. “I know when you’re full of shit.”

I spin to face my sister. “You did not change my diaper. We had nannies to do that.” Dozens of them over the years.

“You know what I mean.” She opens my cupboard and pokes through my mugs. With a snicker, she sets down two of them.

Congrats on being my sister, you lucky bitch

A giftfrom Cooper for my last birthday. That’s sitting next to one I got from Lauren last Christmas.

If you think I’m psycho, you should meet my sister.

“Perfect.”She folds her arms and leans on the counter as I fill both from the pot on my counter. “Seriously. What’s keeping you from taking off your bra and going over there with a can of whipped cream and an open invitation for Dal to lick it off whichever parts he chooses?”

“Lay off, Lauren.” I put the pot back in its cradle and shove the cream and sugar across the counter. “Besides, an award-winning chef wouldn’t be caught dead with canned whipped cream. Besides, he’s lactose intolerant.”

“Tahini then.” Lauren fixes up her coffee. “Melted chocolate?”

I sigh and pick up my mug. “He doesn’t like spin doctors.”

“They’re a fine nineties band.” One edge of her mouth quirks. “Remember ‘Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong’? I loved that song.”

I roll my eyes as I’m required to do, according to the little sister handbook. “Be serious for once.”

“I am serious.” She takes another slug of coffee. “Whatever hang-ups he has about your job, he’s hot for your bod. I’ve seen how he watches you.”

“He does not.”

“Does too.”

“Does n—” This is ridiculous. “What if I want him to want more than my bod?”

She’s quiet a moment, thinking. As much as I’m required to be a pain in her ass, I want to hear what she says. “Your job isn’tyou, Lana,” she says at last. “Anyone who knows you can see that.”

I’m not so sure. “What if Iammy job?”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I mean…” I trail off because maybe I shouldn’t say this out loud. “Sometimes I think my whole life is one big publicity spin.”

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