Page 145 of Rules of Association

Looking over both of my shoulders I addressed my guests. “What do you want to eat?”

Christine was staring right back at those who were staring at her, probably distracted by their rudeness. “We’ll take whatever you made.”

A ripple of laughter moved across the group and,oh my God, could they be any more embarrassing? Nina and Chris both looked at each other and then me confused before they asked in complete unison, “What?”

I grumbled before going to my knees and leaning over the spread to pluck up a couple of plates, loading them up with qualifying materials. Nina was a vegetarian, so it was all fruits and vegetables for her. Christine was the opposite and would probably only pick at the vegetables and devour the meat, so I made her up a mini charcuterie on the disposable bamboo plate. After I situated them with their respective meals, I leaned in again to grab some cups. Everyone was still watching me like I was putting on a damn show, so I didn’t bother asking them what they wanted. I knew the two of them liked wine. So wine they would get.

When I finally settled back into my seat, it was Nina, God bless her, who leaned in and reminded me softly, “You didn’t get yourself anything, hun.”

To which they all laughed again. I grimaced but swung my eyes to my family and just as I thought Melissa passed along a plate loaded up with all my preferred picks to Fergy, who passed it to Ox who passed it to me. As I accepted the plate, I glared at them, hopefully portraying that they had better cut it the fuck out, or there would be hell to pay.

“Is lunch always so quiet with you guys?” Christine asked. She had settled into her spot, crossing her legs and setting her food down on the blanket in front of her.

Ox finally,finallybroke the freeze spell on my annoying family and said, “We apologize for our rudeness. I think you’re just witnessing a sort of group shock, that’s all. Our Ceci doesn’t bring many guests around.”

Behind her cup, I saw Alta lean into Mattí and whisper, “I think that’s the first time she’s ever made a plate!”

I threw a grape at her too but was distracted from catching her eyes by Nina who spoke next. “Aw, you call her Ceci too! How cute.”

“Too?” Multiple voices questioned.

I groaned. Oh my God, this was going to be a disaster. Looking briefly to Connor, I hoped momentarily for some assistance. I didn’t know what he could do, maybe offer a different topic or throw in a diversion. But as his serious eyes landed on me, there seemed to be something stern in that gaze. Something hard and immovable signifying a mind that had been made up.

Not this time. Those eyes seemed to say.Not anymore.

Fuuuck. I inwardly groaned. I couldn’t dwell long on whatever had crawled up his butt though. Because my friends were talking again and it was not going in a good direction.

“Yeah,” Nina nibbled on a celery stick as she looked at my family. “We’ve been trying to find a nickname for Selena for years, but nothing ever had a ring to it. I can’t believe we never thought of Ceci until we heard Co—um—someone elsesay it first.”

I took the time to give every one of the surprised faces a warning glare before settling down into my seat and patting Nina’s knee. “Now you know I prefer Ceci. Just call me that Nin.”

Mattí choked on whatever food he was shoveling down his throat.Good.

“I’m sorry, but this is so fucking bizarre,” Clay started to say. I expected Con to stop him, but it was Ferg who flicked him on the neck first. He turned to her. “What did I do?”

“What’s bizarre is this spread you guys have.” Christine tried defusing the situation. “I’ve never seen anything so big. Ceci, what did you make out of all this stuff?”

Ox’s eye may have twitched. But leaning forward, he moved to pluck up some meat that had gone low on Christine’s plate with tongs and added to her carnivorous pile. “Ceci didn’t make any of this. She’s more of a show up when it's done kind of person. How did you say you guys know each other again?”

“She didn’t,” I said. Everyone ignored me.

Christine smiled, “Oh, we work together at the shelter. She’s been a great help, especially lately with the extra days and late hours.”

“I don’t work there, remember guys?” I mumbled. They continued to ignore me.

Ox raised an eyebrow. “The…animalshelter?”

“No—you volunteer at the animal shelter too?” Nina asked me, but getting distracted, she turned her attention back to the group before continuing. “No, we work for Seaside Waterways. The women's shelter in Claireview.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Ox said with a quick smile before turning wide eyes to his wife who returned his same silent communication with just as much surprise. She was the next target for my grape assault.

“And did you sayyears? I’m pretty sure I heard the word years.” Mattí went on.

“Yeah,” Christine said slowly, finally picking up on the weirdness. “Did you guys not know or something? I'm surprised you would keep your mouth shut about it, Selena, you don't keep it shut about anything else.”

She meant it as a joke, but then she realized what she was saying and let her eyes dart over to Connor suspiciously before dropping them to her plate. Ox tracked her the whole time.Oh my God!I elbowed her, and she apologized with her eyes before trying to fix it. “But enough about work—”

“We areveryinterested in work, though,” Lis said. “Tell us more, please.Selenanever really explained to us what she does with you all.”

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