Page 74 of You're So Vine
“Burger and fries.”
Two big hands lower two big plates in front of Cam and me. Double cheeseburger. Curly fries with a hint of cayenne. My appetite has been nonexistent today but suddenly I’m starving. Besides, shoving food in my mouth is a great way to avoid more talk.
“Everyone got what they want?”
Brendan has Chiara’s trick of adding a hint of threat to a routine statement. Everyone nods. If anyone does have an additional request, it can wait.
“Another beer, Jordan?”
Brendan never asks twice. I catch Shelby widening her eyes at Chiara, who’s become as inscrutably alert as a cat.
“No, thank you.” Jordan’s tone is clipped and formal. And she keeps her head turned to one side.
A man’s gotta know when to walk away, as the song goes, and Brendan does just that. Back to the bar, where he ignores the customers angling for service, and proceeds to polish a whole tray of glasses. I know this because he’s in my line of sight. And I have no shame when it comes to staring.
“It’s been two months,” says Shelby to Jordan. “What if he’s broken up with the actress by now? You’ll never ever know if you never talk to him ever again.”
“Lot of ‘never evers’ there, Shel,” says Chiara. “And he hasn’t broken up with the actress—”
“I don’t care,” says Jordan with a toss of her head.
“Shebroke up with him.”
Definitely head of KAOS or SPECTRE.
This news does not cheer Jordan.
“They broke up?” she says with a hiss. “And he didn’t tell me?”
“Wait.” Nate’s frowning. “I might have the wrong end of the stick here, Jordan, but I was under the impression that you and Brendan had never gone out. Not even once.”
He’s treated to scorching stares from Jordan, Chiara, and his own dear wife, Shelby.
“That”,says Chiara, “is beside the point. As you well know.”
Nate’s face says he knows no such thing and has no idea why they’re mad at him. He turns to Cam for backup, but Cam holds up both hands in the surrender pose.
“Sorry, man,” he says.
“It’s not rational,” Nate insists.
We can all recognize the last gasp of a man who knows he’s outgunned. I fire the final shot to put him out of his misery.
“And were you completely rational when you fell in love, brother dear?”
Shelby lays her head on his shoulder. “He wantedto be, didn’t you, honey bunch?”
“Honeybunch?” Nate rolls his eyes to the ceiling. “Jesus, fine, I give in. Stop torturing me.”
Shelby kisses his cheek and smiles sweetly. Once again, I think how hilarious it is that uptight Nate fell in love with a woman who wears her heart permanently on show everywhere, not just on her sleeve. You’re never in any doubt about what Shelby’s feeling. Never ever, as she might say.
And then I sneak a look at Cam because I realize I’m worried about howhe’sfeeling right now. We didn’t talk about anything medical on our drive to the bar because I was bushed and needed a power nap. I didn’t even acknowledge that he’d hung in there in the hospital waiting room. I’d half expected him not to be there, and I should have thanked him for going the distance, but again, super tired. The burger and fries have given me a bit more energy, but that will probably be canceled out by the beer. So, it isn’t likely we’ll have a coherent conversation between now and tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow morning is when I should hear from Doc Wilson. Maybe. Depending on when the specialist gets to my scans. And then, what kind of conversation will Cam and I have?
“You okay, Ava?”
It’s Nate. Of course it is. Oldest brother has always felt responsible for the rest of the Durant clan, and he’s extra vigilant when it comes to changes in our moods.
