Page 41 of Until I Find You

The waiter finally stops by. Mari orders another round for herself and Geoff before she points at me. “Another?”

“Against my better judgement.” I nod.

“Jack?”

Jack eyes his glass, then looks up at the server. “Whisky neat.”

He specifies the type too and that’s sexier than it should be. The clipped way he says it, so direct, so self-assured.

Who is this man and what did he do with Jack Lyons?

Once the waiter steps away, the table is quiet for a moment.

Then Mari says, “Just like your dad.”

It’s quiet, but it was meant to be heard. We all heard it.

Jack bristles. So does Geoff. I remain as fluid as water if only to keep the peace.

“You’ve met Edwin by this point, I’m sure.” Mari takes her cocktail glass, swirling the melted ice around in order to take another sip.

“I…have.” It only makes sense that I would have already if we’ve been together as long as Jack is making it seem we’ve been.

“Of course, you have. I’ve heard he’s a very different man now, hm?” Mari sips her drink.

Jack swallows so loud I can hear it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean. New wife. New baby. Babies, right? That’s what you told me.”

Jack furrows his brow. “You did the same thing.”

“Yes, but it’s different,” Mari says without looking her son in the eye.

I haven’t taken my hand off Jack’s leg. I squeeze just enough to remind him I’m here. I can ground him. I can take care of things if I have to.

“How is it different?” Jack asks.

“Don’t take that tone with me,” Mari says.

Geoff sighs. “Okay, let’s take it easy.”

“What tone? I’m just asking a question.”

The server arrives at that moment with our drinks. Mari manages her same polite flourishing, as do I. Geoff and Jack remain very quiet. When the whisky is placed in front of Jack, he takes a drink immediately.

“It’s just taken a long time for your father to grow up,” she says. “Don’t you think?”

Jack doesn’t put his glass down so he can have quick access to his next drink. “I think he’s been grown for a while.”

“All right.” Mari gives me a smile, one of those moms trying to smooth things over smiles. My mom does that all the time.

“I mean, he was more of a parent to me than you were after you met Geoff,” Jack says. “No offense, Geoff.”

Geoff takes off his glasses and rubs them off on his suit jacket. “I guess none taken.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Mari says. “That’soffensive.”

“You desperately wanted to get married–“

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