Page 112 of Resisting the Temptation
“Now you see why I adore Camila’s cooking so much,” she mumbles as she pats me on the back.
I’ve never been more grateful for Mamà’s cooking. I swear here and now to never take it for granted ever again.
Chapter 54
Emma
Growing up, family dinners always ended with a game of Uno or Imagine If. Many of my siblings are competitive, and it meant feelings got hurt sometimes, but overall, I think everyone had a good time.
Now, after dinner and dessert is done, everyone just wants totalk.
I hate it.
I don’t need to hear about my oldest brother’s latest “business venture,” I don’t want to hear about Hailey’s latest fad diet and “miracle” drink.
I don’t want to answer any more questions about my job. I don’t want to subject Ben to the interrogation either, but I don’t have much of a choice because I’d get berated if we left early.
My whole life, my family split up into cliques of my mom’s kids or my dad’s kids, and I was awkwardly left bouncing around from one to the other, trying to fit it in. When I was younger, I had my nephews to play withsince some of them are my age, but as an adult, I don’t have a place in either group.
Nothing has changed.
Ben is sitting on one end of a large U-shaped sofa with me next to him. My parents are on the opposite end, and my sisters Shannon and Amanda—along with my sister-in-law Kate—fill in the middle, having a conversation I’m not really following.
The kids have all gone downstairs to play, and the rest of my siblings are in their own conversations across the living room.
“So how did you two meet?” Kate asks me, apparently done with the conversation with Shannon and Amanda.
I like Kate. I think she’s one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. She’s funny, smart, and a great mom.
I also think she’s way too good for my brother, who treats her and their kids like they’re beneath him.
But I’ve never said anything because it’s not my place.
I wasn’t prepared for this question, because therealway we met would make my mother pass away from scandal, and the rest of the room would clutch their pearls and call for repentance.
Not that my family is dramatic or anything.
Ben—who hasn’t stopped touching me in some small way the entire time we’ve been here—squeezes my knee reassuringly.
“Ben and I met at the construction company we both work for. His dad is the owner, and Ben is also a project manager.”
Kate awes while everyone else’s eyebrows shoot to their hairlines, and my mom shakes her head and lets outa disappointed sigh. I don’t know why she’s acting like she didn’t already know.
Amanda gasps. “Why would you do that to your career?”
“What is that supposed to mean? I’m not doing anything wrong by dating Ben.” I can already tell this conversation is going to be bad.
“Well, fraternizing with people in the company is already bad enough, but the owner’sson? What if you two break up? They’re not going to keep you around.”
Ben clears his throat. “I can assure you, Emma’s position at the company isn’t compromised by our relationship. My father hired her with only a phone interview, so I think it’s safe to say he’d rather keep her than me.” Ben tries to laugh it off, and I appreciate him trying to defuse the situation, but he doesn’t know my siblings.
Amanda’s head whips to me with narrowed eyes, but it’s Hailey who pipes up first from across the room, bringing everyone’s attention to our conversation.
“You always did like to spread your legs and then play the victim. Is that how you got the job? You slept with his dad, and now you’re trying to keep your job by sleeping with his son?” Hailey smirks at her harsh blow, knowing she’s hit a spot that’s tender and easily bruised.
I feel Ben tense beside me, and a tingle starts in my nose before making its way to the back of my eyes. I’ve always been a crier. It doesn’t matter how strong I try to be. Any big emotions and, inevitably, tears will overflow.
My mom half-heartedly scolds Hailey. My entire life, I’ve been waiting for my mom to stand up for me and shield me from the venom that drips out of Hailey’s mouth, but she never has.
