Page 20 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

In the end, I think they both settled for each other. They have few interests in common, don’t agree on most things, but hey, they’ve been together for thirteen years, so what do I know?

The Grill House, the restaurant Daniel and I agreed on, is nearly empty when I come in to meet him for lunch. He textedme to let me know he’s running late, but I only saw his text once I was pulling into the parking lot.

The Grill House is a household name in the area. It’s known for its large variety of cocktails and filet mignon. The hostess greets me shortly after I walk in, and I tell her we have a reservation under Daniel Sheridan. She nods, grabbing two menus off the top of the host stand and leading the way to our table.

I text Daniel back as I’m trailing after her.

Lacey

All good. Sitting down now.

I take the opportunity to check the notifications on my phone. I have a few messages from my mom, asking me when we can see each other.

I’m assuming Daniel hasn’t told her we’re having lunch. He knows the last thing I need right now is another one of my mother’s speeches about how I’m throwing my life away to take care of my siblings.

She’s never approved of me becoming their caregiver—something she made clear when she denied me access to my college funds, saying,“If you insist on taking care of those brats, you’re on your own.”

She hates my father for leaving her after she had me, maybe even more now that he’s gone. Let’s just say “Don’t speak ill of the dead” is an unknown concept to her.

I open one of her many unanswered messages.

Mom

It’s never too late to change your mind and get those parasites out of your life, Lacey.

I almost laugh.

If she thinks I’m going to wake up one day and abandon Sierra and Oliver, then she doesn’t know me at all.

“Don’t tell me you’re here to spill a beverage on me.”

I look up to see Chance standing next to my table with a pad in his hand. The mocking grin on his face confirms what I feared.

He wasn’t even there yesterday, but he still heard about the milkshake debacle. Why do I get the feeling that it’ll be years before they let me live that down?

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Chance? What are you doing here?”

“TJ got us jobs here. We only work weekends, though.” He gestures to something behind him.

My gaze flies across the restaurant. Sure enough, TJ stands behind the bar, a towel resting on his shoulder as he places beer glasses on a drying rack.

As though he can feel my eyes digging into his shoulders, he looks up, immediately spotting me.

I should probably look away, but I allow myself a few extra seconds of staring because the only thing I would hate more than having to tutor this guy in my free time is making him think he has any power over me.

I regretted making that deal with him from the moment I pushed him out of the way and hauled out of the women’s bathroom yesterday.

I later found out that Aaron went home to change because,surprise, surprise, his shirt was ruined. That was my cue to cut my losses and call it a night.

Even with TJ’s help, I’m confident Aaron and I are never going to happen.

“What are you doing here?” Chance returns the question, effectively tearing my focus away from TJ.

“Waiting for my dad. We’re supposed to be having lunch.”

Question marks flood Chance’s gaze. “I don’t mean to sound like a prick, but isn’t your dad, like…”

I snort. “Dead? Yeah, he is. I meant my stepdad.”

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