Page 64 of Crave

“The situation between the three of us.” He points between him and Tracy. She bites her lip as she looks at me, waiting for me to speak.

“What makes you think he's told me anything?”

“Maybe from the way you won’t make eye contact with either of us. Or the way you freeze up whenever I’m around. I noticed it when you were at the office last week. With what happened between us the first time we met at my mother’s party, I figured he had to tell you something.”

“Maybe he did, but that’s between me and him, isn’t it?”

He nods in agreement.

“I can understand that, but I want you to know that I love my brother, Sandy. I love him a lot, and I miss him.” I look from him to his pregnant wife again.

You love your brother so much that you steal his girlfriend, knock her up, marry her behind his back and shove it in his face at every family gathering.If we were anywhere else that is what I would have said, but we are at his aunt and uncle’s house. And I refuse to be the one to throw the match on the gasoline today. Regardless, I feel the need to throw one small jab.

“You’re the lawyer, but the evidence doesn’t exactly support your claim, Troy. But I’m not here to opine on your family dynamics.” Except that’s exactly what I just did.

If he’s taken aback by my bluntness, he doesn’t show it. He walks closer to me, but before he can speak, I feel a possessive arm around my shoulder.

“Everything okay, Dee?” The question is for me, but his eyes, two angry slits, are focused on his brother. It’s hard to take his anger seriously when he has a kid hanging on to each of his legs.

“Fine. We were just chatting. Looks like they set up a bar over there.” I point to the opposite side of the yard where the makeshift bar has been created. “I really need another drink. And you probably need some water. You kids want a drink?” They both yell yes, but they don’t let go of Jake. I grab his hand and practically pull him towards the bar and away from his brother.

“What the fuck did he want?” Jake asks once we’ve distracted the kids with Shirley Temples. I take a long sip of my margarita and remind myself to tip the bartender for the extra shot of tequila.

“Let’s talk about it later.” I take a step closer to him, my chest barely touching his. “Seems like you have yourself a fan club.”

“Yeah. I don’t get to see him much, but when I do, he’s all over me. I haven’t seen him since Christmas. He’s grown so much since then, and I had no idea Emma was living with them now.”

“It’s almost June, baby. You should see him more.” I offer him a sip of my drink, but he shakes his head no. Instead, he takes another sip of his beer.

“I like it when you call me baby.” He closes the tiny distance between us and kisses me, not caring about our audience.

We stay on the opposite side of the property, as far away from Troy and Tracy as possible, but I can’t help but look in their direction every few minutes. And every time I do, I find Tracy looking at us. We remain in our bubble, me in his arms, with the kids around us until an inflatable bouncy house goes up. More kids arrive, and Tristan and Emma run off to play.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles between kisses.

“For what?”

“My crazy family.”

“I like your family. Don’t apologize.” Music suddenly starts to play, and the voice of Stevie Wonder takes over. In our little corner on the side of the bar, we start to dance toYou Are the Sunshine of My Life. When that song ends,Sir Dukefollows.

“Who’s a Stevie Wonder fan around here?” I ask as he spins me to the music.

“Uncle John and Aunt T met at a Stevie Wonder concert. And you’re a good dancer, princess.”

“Princess?”

“I don’t know what this Princess Tiana looks like, but you’re the prettiest princess I’ve ever seen.” He leans down and gives me a long, closed mouth kiss as we continue our dance. He spins me around several times, and when the song ends, he dips me dramatically as the people around us applaud. He kisses my neck before standing me up. We find two empty seats at the bar, and spend the next hour sipping cocktails, holding hands and laughing.

“Come on, Uncle Jake.” Tristan snatches Jake’s hand from mine and pulls him towards the table where Emma, his parents, grandparents, and Uncle Luke are sitting. “Grandpa wants us to sit together as a family. He sent me to get you.” He puffs out his little chest in pride at completing his assigned task.

Once Tristan has us at the table, Troy takes the kids inside to wash their hands.

“This table seems kind of crowded. Maybe Sandy and I can sit over there.” Jake points to a table on the other side of the yard.

“Sit down, Jakey. We haven’t done this in a while,” his mom says.

“You’re right, Mom. Wasn’t the last time at Christmas? Oh, wait. We tried this for your birthday a few weeks ago, and that ended up being a bigger disaster than Christmas.” Luke taps his chin with a finger, pretending to be lost in thought. “I wonder what happened those times? What’s the common denominator in all of these disastrous family functions? Hmmm? What can it be?”

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