Page 89 of Friend Zoned

“Indoor pool,” my sister says as if indoor pools are the norm. I close my eyes and ask myself how someone can be so out of touch.

“Um, maybe next time,” Jeannie says. She walks to the wet bar without another word.

A few minutes later, we’re sipping the very strong drinks that Jeannie made. She joins me and Shannon at the table, and the three of us have a tea party while my sister makes a mess in the kitchen. Linc takes out his phone and starts to record her. Shannon giggles when her mother drops a skillet and says the F word twice.

About two drinks in, everyone is relaxed, and the kitchen starts to smell good. My stomach growls. Jeannie must hear it because she gets the cheese platter from the island and brings it to the table. I feed her some, and she lets me, but she still won’t look at me. I hate it. When Shannon runs off to go play with her toys, I pull her onto my lap and wrap an arm around her so she can’t get up.

“I’m still mad.” She tries to get up, but I tighten my arms around her and keep her in place.

“It’s not my fault you didn’t believe me.” I bite her earlobe.

She ignores me and sips her drink, then I feel a subtle tremor. The house is soundproof, but I know the sound and feel of the helicopter landing. I’ve been around it my entire life. Jeannie doesn’t flinch. I eye my sister, but she won’t meet my eyes.

“Katherine,” I say from my seat. I should go to her, but Jeannie’s sitting on my lap, and I love the feel of her too much to move. “Are you fucking shitting me?” She pretends to be busy stirring something. “Lincoln, handle your wife.”

He raises both hands and says, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” From the smirk on his face, he knows exactly what I’m talking about. “And nobody handles my wife. Not even me, and that’s just the way I like it.” He swats her ass.

As I think of the right way to prepare Jeannie for what’s to come, the front door opens, and I hear footsteps. More than one set.

I was expecting our father, but I’m shocked when I see my mother walk in with him too. I guess given their history, I shouldn’t be surprised at all, especially after the way he was looking at her at Christmas.

Jeannie jumps off my lap as if we’re doing something scandalous. I snort and want to tell her we’re two consenting adults in a committed relationship, not two teenagers sneaking around. Her eyes narrow at me as if I’ve betrayed her.

I jump out of my seat and snake an arm around her. “I didn’t know they’d be here. I wouldn’t set you up like that.” The words are barely out of my mouth when my dad walks over and stands in front of us. He looks from her to me, and she inches closer to my side.

“Who do we have here?” My dad picks up her hand and brings it to his lips.

“Dad, this is Jeannie, my girlfriend. Jeannie, this is my father, Roger. And that crazy woman over there is my mother, Rita.” Dad kisses her hand again, and mother walks over and shakes it.

“Lovely to meet you, Jeannie. I was hoping we’d meet soon, but I feel like I already know you from your viral videos.”

Dad practically pushes Mother away and takes Jeannie’s hand again. “I don’t know what he told you but remember you haven’t heard my side yet. I only disowned him for three months. I did it to force his hand and make him come work with me. Why am I a bad father for wanting my son by my side?”

I walk behind Jeannie and put a hand on her shoulder. I’m used to my family, but I know we can be a bit much, especially when we are all together. I think my dad’s words surprise her. She looks from him to me. I try to picture a world where Myra would disown Jeannie for any reason but can’t imagine it.

“And it backfired. He dug in his heels, turned his back on the family and told me he’d never step foot into The Walsh Group. He can be so damn dramatic, not to mention stubborn. He’s just like his mother that way.”

Katherine clears her throat and says, “Let’s not ignore the fact that I’ve always wanted to run things. Sorry I wasn’t born with a dick.” Dad goes to her and hugs her, lifting her off her feet. “And what Dad hasn’t been able to do for eighteen years, I manage to do in two. Aid is only coming to work for the company because of me.”

Katherine offers me a high five, but I don’t take it. She sticks her tongue out at me.

“Well, now you have the biggest one in the room,” my dad says to Katherine. He kisses her forehead. He walks away and pulls a chair out for our mother.

“Now, Jeannie, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable around us. We don’t care that you’re black.”

Jeannie starts to cough. “Dad, enough,” I say.

“Let your dad talk, Aiden,” my mother admonishes. She never sides with him, and that gets the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.

“Well, good thing you don’t care since I can’t change it. Not that I would. For the record, I don’t care that you’re white,” Jeannie says.

“Oh, she’s funny. I like that,” Dad chuckles. You should know we’re a welcoming family. The only blemish is the minor disownment of Aiden, and that was just a blip. Well, it would have been if he didn’t have a tantrum about it. And just so you know, I’ve forgiven him for his part in this. I’m not the one still holding a grudge. Also, I had a black girlfriend once. That was before I got caught up in Rita’s web and married her for the second time.” He winks at her, and I stare at the ceiling. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeannie ran out of here and never returned.

“Um, that’s good to know,” Jeannie says.

I catch Katherine’s eye and she shakes her head in disbelief while we observe our father pour a glass of wine for our mother.

“Why are you two here together? Did you fly here with him?” Katherine asks our mother, and I want to wring my sister’s neck.

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