Page 49 of The Relationship Clause

“Come on,” Kiera says, throwing her hands up. “I happen to know your boss personally. He’s a super cool guy. A little uptight, but he knows family comes first, and this is basically an emergency, right? He’ll approve it with no problem.”

“Kiera,” I say, a warning in my voice. I can’t call her out in front of Dad, and she knows it. “This isn’t up to you.”

Kiera rolls her eyes.

“Owen, Kiera, calm down,” Dad says as if he’s trying to break up a fight. “He’s right about one thing though. The decision is up to Junie and Junie alone.” He turns to her, giving his most disarming smile. “What do you say? It’s only a vacation. An all-expenses-paid vacation, I might add. Have you ever been to Colorado?”

“No,” she admits.

“Oh, it’s lovely. The snow-covered mountains, the sweeping valleys, the air so clean and clear and crisp.” He takes a deep breath in through his nose as if he can smell it. “And wait till you see a sunrise from those mountains. The sunsets are beautiful too, oh, yes, but the sunrises will take your breath away. Not to mention the food and shopping found right in Vail. Come on, what do you say? Will you come?”

“Well…” Junie’s eyes turn to me. “I guess if Owen wants me to come.”

“Of course he wants you to come,” Dad blusters, acting as if it’s the funniest thing he’s heard all week. “What man wouldn’t want his lovely girlfriend joining him on a romantic Valentine’s getaway? You want her to come, don’t you, Son?”

And now I’ve been caught. My foot might as well be clamped in one of those metal bear traps for how trapped I am.

I sigh, admitting defeat. “Yes, of course I want her to come.”

“It’s settled then,” Dad says, clapping Junie and me on our shoulders. “Junie comes to Vail. Now, what’s for dinner, Son? I’m starving. I hope you don’t mind, I brought my own wine.” He picks up a bottle that was on the floor beside the trash and hoists it into the air. Kiera meets my gaze, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing: great.

“You two go inside,” I say, waving them off. “I’m going to help Juniper with her trash, then walk her back to her door.”

“You mean she’s not having dinner with us?” Dad asks, looking incredulous.

“I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion,” Junie says, pointing at her outfit.

“Yeah, and besides, I thought this was a family dinner.” I emphasize the word, hoping he’ll take the hint that I only want it to be a family dinner. But Dad will have no hints. He’s apparently taken it upon himself to make this night as difficult and uncomfortable as possible.

“Nonsense. It doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. She must come. I mean, why wouldn’t she when she literally lives across the hall?”

New panic rises in my throat. Not because I don’t want to cook for Junie and have dinner with her, but because subjecting her to dinner with my dad and Kiera is a step above torture. For both of us.

But it’s clear neither Junie nor I can win tonight. Not against Dad and Kiera. They’ve ganged up on us, and they won’t let us go until we both cry uncle.

“That’s a great idea, Dad,” Kiera says, nodding emphatically. “Junie isn’t much of a cook, so she probably doesn’t have any dinner plans tonight, do you?”

Junie’s eyes go big. “Weeeell…”

“Perfect.” Dad turns to my door. “You two take care of the trash and we’ll see you inside.”

Dad and Kiera disappear, and I grab the forgotten bag off the floor, walking slowly down the hall to the trash chute, Junie at my side.

Dinner with Junie. Not just Junie. Dad, Kiera, and Junie. My brain starts immediately downloading all the worst-case scenarios that could happen tonight. All the embarrassing and awful things Dad could say. His inevitable drunkenness. I can do this. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

I’d better be able to do this because I’m going to be spending way more time with Junie in Vail.

My life is a mess. And now Junie’s caught in it too.

“I’m so sorry,” I groan.

She blinks several times then meets my gaze. “What just happened? I was standing there, right there, saying no. I was saying no, wasn’t I? That wasn’t in my head?”

“No, that wasn’t in your head. You said no. My father didn’t listen. It’s his specialty.”

“B-but, how? He wasn’t even mean or forceful about it like your mom. He was…”

“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘killing you with kindness.’ Again, it’s another one of his specialties. He sells insurance for a living, so he’s had years of practice. Add the fact that Kiera was no help at all, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.”

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