Page 56 of Return to Us
Alex wraps his arm around me, holding me to his side. “And I also heard you’re working here.”
“Right again,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I’m sure that’s . . . fun.”
“That’s one word for it.”
Alex takes a step back, tugging me gently to let someone pass. “I won’t say the word I’d use for being summoned back here by my asshole father and my viper of a mother.”
“Fun?” I offer.
He drains the amber liquid in his glass. “Definitely not. This fucking place makes my skin crawl.”
“So, you’re glad you’re not here?”
He laughs. “Sweetheart, I would’ve burned the fucking place down if I had to stay.”
I don’t remember Alex being openly hostile about his parents when he was a kid. None of them were ever openly loving, but neither did they seem hostile—well, except Josh. He was the first sibling to take off to another location, which coincided with a certain incident with my best friend.
“I take it things in the Parkerson house are tense?”
Alex waves over someone from the waitstaff I don’t know, requesting another whiskey neat.
“They’re always tense. I don’t know how Grayson and Stella do it.”
I look around the room and spot another Parkerson. God, I hope Delia isn’t here, or this will be bad for everyone. “Are you all here tonight?”
Alex laughs once. “You mean is Grayson here tonight?”
“I didn’t ask that. I just saw Josh.”
The waiter is back, giving him another drink. He puts his glass down on the table, looking around the room. “We’re all in town. Oliver is leaving tonight, so you might get to see him before he goes. Josh and I are gone first thing in the morning.”
“Did you see Delia?”
“She’s here.”
“Great,” I mutter.
“Yeah, she saw Josh already and then told me she had to make a phone call.” Alex and Delia’s relationship went from best friends to estranged after Josh left. Alex and Josh look the most alike, and I didn’t think she could take it.
“I should go find her.”
He nods, grabs his drink, and takes a long sip. “I’m going to get another drink and avoid my parents as much as possible. It was good to see you, Jess.”
I give him another hug. “It’s always good to see you.”
He leaves, and I realize he didn’t say anything about Grayson. Not that it matters, but when I know I’m going to see him, there’s a level of preparation I feel is healthy.
I walk the room, talking to a few people from town I haven’t seen since I’ve been back. I focus a lot on breathing and keeping calm. It’s been the key to speaking without any missteps, and the more in control I am, the better.
“Jessica, I wasn’t sure you’d show,” Eveline says. She is gorgeous in a black cocktail dress. Of all the insults one could wield against her, her beauty isn’t one.
“Winnie is my sister and I wouldn’t miss this for her.”
She smiles at someone behind me. “We don’t normally allow staff here, but I guess it’s fine since it’s family and all. You’re not senior enough to attend otherwise.”
I bite my tongue, knowing that if I cause a scene it would be bad for me. The time I’ve worked at this job has helped me tremendously. It’s like physical therapy for my brain, and I won’t lose it unless it’s on my terms.
