Page 56 of Claiming Her Cougar
Dad’s wearing his CEO smile.The one that looks polite but really means he’s going to eviscerate you.“I enjoy working with Liam.He’s an asset to the company.”
Robert nods.“My youngest is in law school.It’s nice that at least one of my children is following me into the legal field.”
What the hell?
“Mallory’s in the legal field,” I say.
“She’s not an attorney.She’s just a secretary.”
Just a secretary?There’s not a damn thing wrong with being a secretary, but Mallory isn’t one, and it’s ridiculous her father can so casually dismiss her.Dad stares at me, silently commanding me to hold my temper.Aunt Holly would be pissed if we got blood on her furniture.
I glance toward the kitchen to see if the ladies have noticed our conversation.Mallory’s cheeks are flushed, and by the quick glance she shoots our way, she’s either heard the conversation or experienced this kind of bullshit often enough to know what’s going on.
Uncle Mike, the diplomat of our group, diffuses the situation.“Mallory is an excellent paralegal.She’s a key component of our legal team.You must be very proud of her.”
Robert must realize he can’t say anything more on the subject without making it obvious he’s not proud of Mallory and her career, so he shuts up.Good.What an asshole.He keeps his mouth shut for the rest of the first half except for discussing football.At halftime, we go back into the kitchen to grab more food and refresh our drinks.
The ladies are chatting and working on their ornaments.Logan whispers something in Daphne’s ear that makes her blush.Mallory’s seemingly focused on spreading glue on a piece of felt.More focus than the task entails.I tune into the conversation in time to hear her mother take her turn being an asshole.
“My eldest has two little boys.They should start shifting in a few years, thank goodness.”She makes the sign of the cross either in gratitude to a higher power or to ward off the curse of being a non-shifter.Maybe both.
“Both of your kids shift, Holly?”Beth asks.
“Yeah.Logan is a golden eagle shifter like Mike, and Andy is a cougar shifter like me,” Aunt Molly answers.
“And Liam and Kendall are both cougar shifters, Faith?”
What’s with all the shifter talk?
“Yeah, they take after Will,” Mom answers.
“You don’t shift?”Beth asks.
“Nope,” Mom says, popping the P.She’s getting annoyed.
“Neither does Mallory, the only one of our kids not to.She’s not prey-driven like them.That’s probably why she isn’t that ambitious.”Beth takes another sip of wine.She must be drunk.Please let her be drunk and not like this all the time.
I look around the room.Everyone’s gobsmacked.Robert’s filling his plate, oblivious to the bullshit his wife is spouting.They’re perfect for each other.
“She’s always been the runt of the litter,” Beth says with a giggle.“If she ever gets married and has kids, if they shift, she won’t understand.How did you handle it, Faith?”
How the hell did Mallory and Trevor end up so normal?This is crazy.Mom is just staring at her.Aunt Holly looks like she’s ready to shift and cut a bitch.Daphne is near tears.
Mallory laughs and holds out her wineglass for Mom to refill.She’s obviously heard this countless times.She’s trying to act like this isn’t affecting her, but it’s like Mallory’s getting smaller and smaller right before my eyes with each comment out of her mother’s mouth.The words are chiseling off little chunks of her.She’s sitting tall and proud like this doesn’t mean anything, but her shoulders are even tighter than before.Her hand is trembling ever so slightly as she raises her glass to take a sip of the wine she has a hard time swallowing.
I want to defend her and pull her into a hug to tell her how wonderful she is, but she raises her eyes to meet mine and gives the slightest shake of her head, telling me to stand down.I’ll do it.This time.Because she’s asked me to.But this isn’t okay.People don’t get to treat Mallory like this and get away with it.
“Hey, Daph,” Logan cuts in, “didn’t you want to show Mallory that thing upstairs?”
Daphne nods slowly.“Yeah, I did.”
She reaches out to take Mallory’s hand.The one not holding the wine glass.
Mallory drains her glass in two gulps, puts it back on the table, and stands up to go with Daphne to see the thing.
“Coming with us, Liam?”Logan asks.
There must’ve been some silent communication happening among our parents, and we’re supposed to skedaddle.I’m good with that.
