Page 46 of The Attraction

I want to say that I’m busy, but he is looking at me so hopeful that I will be here.

“Sure, your mum and dad are sweet, and someone has to be here to be the neutral person when you and your brother try to outdo each other with bad jokes. Oh God, you don’t get them from your father, do you? Will I have to listen to three of you trying to be the comedians?” I roll my eyes at him, but also, part of me is looking forward to watching him interacting with his family in his home.

After what he told me last night, I can’t help but ask the question. “Why are you letting Flynn cook? I can help you if you want to do it.”

He shakes his head. “Thanks, but it’s just easier to let the golden boy do it. It’s what they expect. Plus, it’s his punishment for trying to make Mum believe I…” He cuts off.

“Believe what?” I ask.

“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, you better move if you have an early meeting. Starting the day on the back foot makes everything compound, and you don’t want to be running late so you run over into lunchtime with your mother.”

“True.” We both head to our bedrooms, and as I approach my door, he casually asks me as he keeps walking toward his room, “Sleep well last night?”

“Sure did. And you?” I reply out of courtesy.

“Mhmmm,” he says as he slips into his room, and I close my door, thinking that his question is a bit weird since we had been talking for a while in the gym. Oh, crap, I hope he didn’t hear me crying myself to sleep. Surely not, otherwise he would have said something.

* * *

The morning goes quickly, and I’m in the taxi on the way to The Ritz for lunch and going over in my head things to talk about so I don’t look stressed or worried about anything. I don’t want them to know anything about Chester or that something to do with Dad has resurfaced after all this time. My mum is living her best life now and deserves to stay that way. I’ll handle this on my own, that’s what I’ve always done. Put my family first.

I end up being fifteen minutes late, and when I finally walk in, my sisters both give me the glare of thanks for leaving them alone with Mum for all this time.

“Here is my last beautiful girl. Harper, sweetheart, how are you?” She tilts her cheek toward me as I lean down to give her a kiss and then go to both my sisters and do the same.

“Doing great, Mum, how about you?” And if there is one thing mothers like to do, it’s talk about who in their friend group is sick, getting a grandchild, has a child getting married, or sadly, which friend has died. Every person she mentions is always with the added clause of “you know she lived down the street when you were five,”or“remember she used to deliver the groceries to us.”Obscure things, but all three of us just sit here nodding and listening intently like we know exactly who she is talking about.

And then we start around the table with her favorite questions, especially for Rachel and me, being single, “Are there any boyfriends on the horizon?” Amanda gets the other ones, “How is Stephen, and any wedding bells on the horizon?” Which has gotten worse since Felisha got engaged, because Mum sees her best friend Ivy getting to plan a wedding. Well, let’s just say plan her outfit for a wedding, because Felisha and I are keeping her right away from the plans because we don’t want it to be some big socialite event of the season. Ivy might, but it’s just not Felisha’s style, thank goodness.

By the time we have finished eating and had a few champagnes, Oliver is here and ready to pick up my mother to escort her home. He is a sweetheart, and I’m so happy she found him.

“Right, now she’s gone, so let’s move to the bar and we can really catch up.” Rachel is up and already walking out of the restaurant, and Amanda looks at the bill sitting on the table.

“Don’t worry, Sis, I’ve got it. She does it every time.” Although Amanda has a good job, she doesn’t make anywhere near the money I do. I would feel guilty for making her pay half of the lunch bill. She tries to object, but of course I ignore that, whereas Rachel has no problem with letting her big sister pay. Actually, to be honest, she just assumes I will pay every time.

By the time I walk into the bar area, my sisters are sitting at a table, and there are three margaritas being placed in front of them.

“You didn’t waste any time.” Taking my seat, I grab my glass as we all lift them and clink them together.

“Right, now let’s really talk. What’s happening with you two?” Rachel sits back, her margarita in her hand and looking at both of us.

I want to reply with the words,“So much that you wouldn’t believe it,”but I don’t.

My family doesn’t even know I’ve moved in with Forrest, and of course, they don’t know about the resurgence of the shit involving Dad. So, I just sit here and look to Amanda, hoping she will start talking, and by the way she is bouncing in her seat, I can tell she has something to share.

“I couldn’t wait to see you both. And there was no way I was saying this in front of Mum, but I was putting the washing away two nights ago and I found a ring box at the back of Stephen’s sock drawer, wrapped inside a pair of socks he never wears. A big, beautiful, solitaire diamond ring.” She is almost jumping out of her skin in excitement and so are we for her.

“Holy shit, Sis!” Rachel jumps up to hug her.

“Oh, Amanda, I’m so happy for you.” I watch little tears streak down her cheeks as I reach over to hug her quickly too. I can’t not hug her at such an important time of her life.

“Wait, why were you at the back of the sock drawer looking inside a pair of socks he never wears?” I’m already laughing at her. “You were snooping, weren’t you?” I point at her like she’s in trouble. “You ruined your own surprise because you were nosy. Oh man, it’s always the quiet ones you need to watch.”

“Yeah, remember when I got blamed for finding the Christmas presents after Mum found me sitting on the floor playing with my new baby doll? But it was this one,” Rachel says, pointing at Amanda who is already laughing and lifting her glass up to signify you’re welcome to Rachel. “I couldn’t have even reached the cupboard they were in, and I was only four years old. But of course, Mum didn’t even think to ask precious book-nerd Amanda because she would never do that.”

I laugh. “That’s how she got away with everything, had her nose stuck in a book and looked so innocent, but we both know better. If Mum only knew half the things she was reading, she would have locked her up in the attic to save her precious daughter from reading such dirty words. You have a little wild streak on the inside, don’t you?” I quiz her as I sip on my margarita, which I must say packs a punch, and it’s exactly what I need today.

“I call dibs on planning her hen’s party. I’m getting strippers, those dick straws, the whole works. Oh, and those dick candy necklaces too.” Rachel picks up her phone to make notes.

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