“I told you all about my issues,” I remind her. “I want you to talk to me.”
Chapter 12
Violet
He moves a few inches away and turns to his side. I do the same. I run my finger down his cheek. He takes my hand and kisses my fingertips.
“Don’t try and distract me with your magic touch,” he warns. “Talk. I’m pretty sure it’s a perk of being in arelationship.”
“Fine,” I say and blow an exaggerated breath upward. “I blamed my mom for the divorce. I was wrong to do that, but I was a kid. All I remember was that they argued all the time and then one day Dad told me he was moving out. I asked to go with him, but Mom wouldn’t let me. Then a year later, he moved to London because of his job. A year after that, Mom remarried my sister’s father, and he moved into my dad’s house.”
“I can see how that would make any kid angry,” he says. “It’s a lot of change.”
“It was, and if my dad was close, I could have dealt with it. I would have just moved in with him and not cared about what my mother had to say, but he was in another country, and Mom would not let me live there permanently. Wade moved in and tried to parent me. That was a hell no. He pit me and Terri against each other. Not only was she brilliant, but she did everything right. I was hostile and defiant. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing that I got to spend the summers with my dad abroad. I went for Christmas each year after I turned sixteen until he moved back. When I went to college at eighteen, I never looked back.”
“How did your mom handle your rebellious stage?”
“Not well. She constantly asked me why I couldn’t be more like Terri. Terri never argues. She never talks back. Her grades were perfect. You know what? My grades were perfect too.”
He puts a hand on my hip and moves closer.
“You don’t get into the Ivy League with mediocre grades, darlin’. Even I know that,” he says.
“Wade would try and punish me, but I’d just laugh in his face and call my dad. In my senior year of high school, right after I turned eighteen, I booked myself a flight to London to visit my dad. I didn’t tell my mom. I called and told my dad only after I boarded the plane. He sighed and said he would handle mymom. I don’t know what he said to them, but they didn’t give me any shit when I got home. Wade was pissed though. I heard him arguing with my mom about not letting me get away with my thoughtless behavior, but she told him to stay out of it. He didn’t speak to me for weeks, thank God.”
“How were things with you and Terri?” he asks. “Outside of your mama’s comparisons.”
“We were very close. She’s three years older, so she was away at college for most of my rotten teen years. We started to drift apart after she graduated college and went to grad school. She changed a lot. She became more distant and pulled away. Then she started criticizing me too, especially after I dropped out of college. I don’t know if it was due to stress, but she became an asshole. Then she got with Spencer and things really went to hell.”
“Do you think—” His words get cut off by the loud ringing of his phone. I chuckle because I know exactly who it is.
“Helicopter brother,” I giggle.
Charlie’s nostrils flare and he reaches for the phone. “Yes,” he says, his voice terse. “What the heck do you think I’m doin’? Strippin’ for drinks?” I wiggle my brows and he grins.
“I’d like to see that,” I whisper. “But not for drinks.”
“Oh, my God, Colton,” he groans. “I can’t come now. I’m naked,” he says, and I start to giggle. Then he adds, “With my girlfriend.”
I move closer and wrap my hand around his dick. He instantly hardens, and I lick my lips at him. “You’re about to come now,” I whisper. I go under the covers and start to kiss my way down. “Make me gag.
I text back with a sad face emoji and slide my phone back into my purse. I run my fingers through my now straightened hair before I dab on a little lip gloss. Once I’m done, I sit back and look out the window while the Uber takes me to La Masseria. It’s not a long ride, but Manhattan in the summer is busy at any time of day.
I stare at the gift bag and wonder if my mother will like the earrings and broach I got her, but I already know she will. I know her taste. As much as I’m dreading this early family dinner, I’ll be happy to have it behind me until the next one.
The only upside to not seeing Charlie until tomorrow is that I can have a few drinks to get me through this dinner, which I know I will desperately need.
The car stops in front of the restaurant, and I take a deep breath before I step out. I check my watch and realize I’m ten minutes late. Eager to get this over with, I give the hostess the name of the reservation, and she takes me to a secluded table toward the back of the restaurant.
My mom smiles when she sees me and stands to give me a hug.
“You look pretty,” she whispers. She strokes my hair and kisses my cheek. “Love your dress.” It’s a long, blue maxi dress with high slits on each side. I completed the outfit with a thick belt around my waist. Charlie told me how pretty I looked after I texted him a picture.
“Thanks, Mom. Happy birthday.” I hand her the gift bag, and she takes it. I look around the table and decide that I’m going to do my best to get through this event. My sister is sitting next to her husband. His blue eyes look icier than usual, and his blonde hair is in the same stiff pulled back look. He doesn’t bother to look at me, but my sister stands and hugs me. The hugis as stiff and awkward as her husband’s hair. Unlike his hair, the hug takes me by surprise.
“Terri,” is all I say. Then I look to her husband, plaster a fake smile, and say, “Spencer.” He gives me a firm nod.
I pull away and grab a seat. Luckily the server arrives, and I order a French martini before finally turning to face my mother’s husband, Wade. I don’t bother greeting him.