Page 57 of It's Complicated

“That’s exactly what I meant to say,” Jace agrees with a grin.

“Thought so.” Jessica’s smile is as sweet as it’s evil.

“Are you getting more involved with the clinic, son?” Hunter asks.

Jessica doesn’t leave him time to reply. “Devi is going on maternity leave next month, and Jace and Lori have offered tocover for her.” With that, she turns to me. “Lori, you are a sight for sore eyes. I’m so glad I can openly call you my sister now.”

Julia gasps at that. “You mean you knew about them?”

“Oh, please, Mom, I wastherewhen it all began,” Jessica replies theatrically, sticking to the fake version of how our relationship started.

If nothing else, Jace’s sister is giving us bang for our bucks—or more bang for our slave labor.

With the excuse of hugging me, she whispers, “You’ve been naughty, darling, we have to talk soon.” As she pulls back, Jessica winks at me.

Meanwhile, Hunter has been busy filling glasses with bubbly and he now distributes them around.

When everyone is stocked, he raises his glass in a toast. “To Jace and Lori, we’d lost hope we’d ever see this one settle down.” Hunter tilts his flute in Jace’s direction, who, in response, grimaces while still being a good sport. “And we couldn’t have hoped for a better daughter-in-law.”

They’re gettingwayahead of themselves, but we all cheer, drink, and then take our seats around the large table.

23

JACE

Two hours into the family reunion, Lori and I have been grilled more than a slow roasted rack of ribs. Mom and Dad have been firing questions at us non-stop. They want to absorb every detail of our relationship from the moment we allegedly kissed over the holidays to now.

Admittedly, Mom asks most of the questions. Dad tips his glass to us now and then to show us he approves.

I’m not the only one affected by the third degree. It’s obvious that Lori is reaching the end of her rope, especially since we have to invent half the answers on the fly, and she’s the worst liar.

I study her. Right now, it’s hard to tell if it’s the wine or the relentless interrogations that are making Lori blush and look at the floor as she replies to Mom’s umpteenth question. “No, I haven’t told my parents yet. When I went home for Christmas, the relationship was too new, and I don’t want to tell them over the phone.”

“Then you should both take a trip to Sarasota.” Mom theatrically places a hand over her chest. “Trust me, you don’t want them to learn about it secondhand.”

Guess she won’t drop the fact that Aiden’s mom knew before her any time soon.

“Well, if you’re planning a trip,” Jessica chips in. “You’d better do it before Devi goes on maternity leave. You won’t have many free weekends after that.”

Don’t I know!

Lori looks more overwhelmed by the minute.

“So,” Dad says. “You two have been seeing each other for a month and a half,” he summarizes. “Any plans for the future yet?”

“Enough with the cross-examination…” I finally intervene. “Can we talk about something else? We’re here to celebrate.”

“Fine,” Mom says in a disappointed voice.

So I tease her a little. “Mom, I promise you that after today you know more about us than anyone else.”

She smiles. “I guess we’ll have plenty of time to get you kids to open up.” Mom reaches across the table and squeezes Lori’s hand. “You’re going to be like a second daughter.”

Jessica rolls her eyes. “Why, Mom, ain’t I enough for you?” she asks teasingly.

My sister should’ve known better.

Mom lets go of Lori and turns to Jessica. “Oh, dear, sorry we neglected you. Did you want to talk aboutyourlove life?”

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