Page 21 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

“Travis was telling us how you got held up the first day of school too.”

“Was he?”

“He was. It was lucky he saved you a seat.”

“Savedme a seat?” I cut my eyes back to the smirking idiot.

“I’m nothing if not thoughtful like that.”

What I wouldn’t pay to be able to punch that grin off his smug face. “Sothoughtful.”

“Here you go.” Dad handed me a craft beer and clapped me on the shoulder. “I had them stock the fridge for you tonight.”

Travis made a gagging motion as I took a sip of the cold brew, and I couldn’t help but hope he choked for real.

“Thanks, Dad, appreciate it.”

“I’m curious,” Travis said, nodding at the bottle I held. “Do you actually like that piss, or is it just the pretty labels that get you?”

“That’s rich coming from someone who hits on anything even mildly attractive.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“It wasn’t a yes, or did that go over your head?”

“I hope you’re both hungry,” Vera said, putting on a bright smile like that would defuse the situation. “I made enchilada stuffed shells.”

That at least sounded promising, despite the company. If there was one good thing that came from family dinner nights, it was that Vera was actually pretty decent in the kitchen, which had surprised me when she and my dad first got together. I didn’t think big-time actresses even knew how to turn an oven on.

We passed the formal dining room, where the custom marble table seated twenty, and headed into the family dining room. Tall tapered candles had already been lit along the smaller table and settings placed for the four of us. Vera strived for a cozy ambience on these occasions, from the low lighting to the sound of jazz filtering in from the record player in the corner. While our parents took their seats at the head of the table, I reluctantly took the spot across from Travis. It was enough to endure these dinners, but having no other option but to see his face every time I looked up was a lot.

“Vera, you know what would be a great centerpiece? Some of those pampas grass stems in a vase,” I said.

With elegant fingers, she placed her napkin in her lap and smoothed her hands across it. “You think so?”

Travis snorted. “He wants it to block out my face.”

Iwantedto kick him under the table. “Would that be so bad?”

Vera sighed and then pasted her smile back on. “Pass the salad, please, Travis.”

Blue eyes held mine as he handed her the bowl. If this was a staring contest, I could play that and win. Travis may be themost stubborn ass I’d ever met, but I wasn’t a push-over-and-let-him-conquer type.

“Caleb?” Dad said, and when I didn’t respond, he snapped his fingers. “Vera spent hours getting dinner ready for us, and the least you could do is try the stuffed shells before they get cold.”

Guilt. It always worked, and that was the only reason I tore my eyes away from Travis, effectively giving him the upper hand, so I could apologize to Vera. It wasn’t her fault she’d birthed a menace to society.

“Sorry, Vera,” I said, and scooped a healthy amount onto my plate. “This looks great. Thank you.”

She flashed me a proud smile before handing me the salad bowl. “You’re very welcome. I hope you like it.”

“Don’t worry,” Travis said, picking up the serving spoon the second I put it down. “Caleb likesalmosteverything.”

Don’t respond don’t respond don’t respond.

Instigatorwas Travis’s middle name, though, and I could feel him watching me, waiting for my comeback.

Instead, I kept my head down and shoveled a forkful of the pasta into my mouth. It was just the right amount of cheesy, and the mix of chicken, enchilada sauce, and green chilis hit the spot.

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