Page 130 of Tobias

We walk into the kitchen, and I give Marianne a kiss on the cheek while looking over her shoulder to see what she’s mixing in the pot—pasta.

“You’re early,” she comments.

“There was nothing else to do.”

I grab an apple from her fruit basket and bite into it.

“Food will be done soon.”

“Good, I’m starving,” I respond, noting the oven is on too. “What are you making?”

“Spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Yum.”

“How did last night go?” she asks.

I groan. “Can we not?”

“I assumed it didn’t go well. If it had, you wouldn’t have accepted my lunch date today.”

“Then why are you asking me? Enjoying the torture?”

“No.” She turns to me with a frown. “But you should talk about it.”

“I talked to Asher.”

“Fine,” she says with a huff. “But there is something I need to talk toyouabout.”

“Great,” I mutter, taking another bite of my apple. I pull it out of my mouth and give it to Biscuit, then take another.

“Is that good for her?” Marianne asks.

“In small amounts.”

She shoos me out of the way so she can strain the pasta before pulling a dish out of the oven that’s full of meatballs and sauce, and a sheet of garlic bread. I get out the plates and silverware. Five minutes later, we’re at the table eating.

“So,” I say when my plate is half finished. “What do we need to talk about?”

She holds my gaze, giving me a look that tells me I’m not going to like what she says. Just what I need. More bad news.

“I talked to my father.”

“Okay?” I have no idea where this is going and what talking to her father could have to do with me. The man hates me.

“He’s offered to give you a job.”

“No.” I give a firm shake of my head and stab a meatball.

“Theo,” she whines. “This will help you.”

“I am not working for your father. He hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t. He’s just trying to understand, is all.”

“I don’t need charity.”

“Actually, I think that’s exactly what you need right now.”

---