Page 30 of You Complicate Me

“I’m not married,” Grace said at the same time Nick said, “She’s not married.”

“You seem happy, Grandma,” Gage said. “Did you run over a puppy on your way here?”

“Grace, Gage,” Sarah said, “don’t antagonize your grandmother.”

“She started it,” Grace said defensively.

“She totally did,” Gage agreed.

“I don’t care who started it, I’m finishing it.” Sarah threw her hands up. “I can’t believe I just said that to two grown-ups.”

“Sorry,” they mumbled in unison.

“Besides,” Sarah went on, warming to her topic, “this night is about Sadie and Michael. The least you can do is pretend you have manners until dinner is over.”

“That’s not the least I could do,” Grace said. “I could do way less.”

“David,” Sarah whined. “Speak to your daughter.”

David’s eyes didn’t leave his Kindle as he said, “Poodle, do as your mother says, please.”

Nick glanced at Grace. “Poodle?”

She rolled her eyes and said, “Unfortunate perm experience when I was a teenager. Not exactly a story I like to share.” He chuckled.

Ruthie leaned back and turned her attention to Sadie. “Are you sure you want to marry into this group of degenerates, dear? I’m sure you’re too good for Michael.”

“That’s no lie,” Gage said under his breath.

“Hey,” Michael said, sounding like a kid who’d been told he couldn’t be Batman when he grew up.

Sadie and Gage locked eyes for a split second before she blushed and looked down at the table.

Grace reached around him to pop Gage on the shoulder. “Snap out of it,” she hissed. “She’s Michael’s fiancée.”

“You said that already,” he hissed back.

She bared her teeth at him. “I thought it merited repeating.”

A waiter arrived and asked if anyone wanted wine. Everyone held their glasses up eagerly.

“Thank you, Jesus,” Grace muttered.

Amen and Hallelujah.

Chapter Fourteen

On an average day, Grace knew her family was moderately dysfunctional and quirky. But on a day like today, they were really no better than monkeys at the zoo flinging their crap at one another.

Throughout dinner, her mother continued grilling Nick like she was a detective and he was a perp on Law and Order. Her father ignored everyone all night while he read World War Z, making Grace regret her decision to buy him a Kindle for his birthday the previous year. Gage’s visual fascination with Sadie seemed to border on obsession by the time dessert was served. Michael was especially clueless as he split his time between glaring at Nick and gazing adoringly at Sadie. Nick wore the shell-shocked visage of an avalanche survivor and Grandma Ruthie was…well, Grandma Ruthie.

And now, an hour after dessert with no end to the carnage of the evening in sight, Grace found herself wondering if there was another restaurant in town. Maybe some good old-fashioned comfort food would settle her stomach. The food Sadie had chosen for their dinner left her slightly nauseous. Who the hell chose pumpkin bisque as an after-appetizer soup, anyway?

“Are you okay?” Nick asked.

She was so fascinated with that little furrow in his brow, the one he got when he was concerned about her, that she didn’t answer. God, it was so nice to have someone care about her. How pathetic was that?

“You look a little green,” he added, the furrow deepening.

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