Page 70 of Shameless

She’s unbelievable.

“Evan isn’t my brother,” I bite out. “And how do you know he didn’t shoot those three people? Or have the police cleared him too?”

“They’re working on it,” Tiffany’s tone is outraged. “But they know Evan was going to propose to Maura. Why would he kill her? He had no motive.”

I can’t bite my tongue. “Was he? Then why did he come after me, trying to put his hands on me during his girlfriend’s birthday party? Maybe Maura saw him and they argued. Maybe Evan snapped and?—”

“Stop it, Talulah!” Tiffany seethes. “Right now. No one believed your lies about Evan last year, and no one believes them now. You wish you were half as successful as Evan. He got his Ivy League degree, he had a suitable girlfriend, he’s never caused usany problems unlike you. He’s the kind of son Howard and I can be proud of. He’s charming, smart and he’ll soon have a senator as a father. I’m sure he’s going to find another excellent young woman before we know it. You could only wish he’d even look at you.”

There it is.

I always suspected my mother preferred Evan to me, but her words confirm it without any doubt.

“Yeah Evan is perfect,” I snort, pointing toward the tables on the veranda that overlooks the pool area. “Look at him. He’s trying to get into Jasmine Wheeler’s pants. Oh and in case you didn’t know, she’s pregnant. Can you imagine if they got photographed together? Explain to Howard how you let that happen under your watch.”

Jasmine and Evan are openly flirting. There are two empty martini glasses on their table and two fresh drinks in front of them.

Jasmine laughs at something Evan says, running her fingers over his arms and then leans to whisper something in his ear.

Tiffany’s eyes track the direction I’m pointing at. “No way!” She gasps. “He can’t be seen with that harlot.”

When Evan downs his martini and so does Jasmine, the couple walks away hand in hand.

“Looks like they want to go somewhere more private.” I suggest.

“Hell no! Over my dead body.” Tiffany takes off in their direction.

“Who knew that Evan would be useful in getting rid of Tiffany?” Crew laughs at the way my mother runs in her sky high heels.

“Yeah.” I say, tasting bitterness on my tongue. “She never had a motherly bone in her body when it comes to me, but she cares about that creep.”

Crew wraps his arm around my shoulders in a comforting way. “She doesn’t care about him, baby. Tiffany is the female version of Eddie. People like them only care about themselves. She just doesn’t want Evan’s actions to make her look bad with her husband.”

Jules

“Seriously Mom?” I chuckle at the sight of Mom and Jenna. They have matching face painting and they’re both licking snow cones in matching colors.

She offers me a sheepish look. “What? Can’t I have fun with my granddaughter?”

I fake a stern look when Jenna jumps up and down with so much energy that she could power the entire town if we could find a way to harness it.

“Daddy, look! We’re mermaids!”

I compliment the shimmering green scales on Jenna’s cute cheeks and the little colorful fish and stars. “I can see that. You look beautiful.”

Jenna squeals, delighted. “I’m a mermaid princess and we have a surprise.”

I brace myself for it.

“What is it?”

Jenna looks at Mom. “Ready Grams?”

“On my three,” my mother beams. “One, two… three!”

At her three, they both stick their tongues out and I lose my battle to keep some kind of composure. “Your tongues are blue?” I laugh.

“It’s the cone!” Jenna jumps. “It’s boo-berry!”

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