Page 9 of Now That We Don't Talk

“How are you? I’m so glad we could all find an evening to have dinner,” Mom says, picking up her menu. “Jackie should be here soon.”

“I’m great,” I say. “And what about you two? Did you finally book your cruise?”

My parents have been talking for years about taking a cruise, or rather my mom has been talking about it and trying to talk my dad into it.

“Your mom has convinced me to go to the Bahamas on a four-night sailing,” my dad mumbles.

“That’s amazing. Are you excited?”

“To be on a large boat with a bunch of strangers?”

“Yes, Dad. That’s what a cruise is.”

“I’d rather go to Vegas,” he says.

“Vegas is disgusting,” Mom snaps.

“You don’t know that because you’ve never been,” Dad retorts.

“And you’ve never been on a cruise,” Mom replies.

My dad frowns but doesn’t say anything. Honestly the man is a saint. He must be after living with three women. My mother, Jaclyn, and I are a lot to handle.

I look back and forth as my parents face off.

“Okay, so it’s settled. You go on your cruise, and your next trip will be to Las Vegas,” I declare, holding up my hand before my mother can chime in.

“Hello, family,” Jaclyn announces dramatically. She blows us each a kiss and sits down between me and my mom. “What did I miss?”

My mother takes the lead and explains the whole cruise or Vegas debate before our server arrives to take our drink order.

“I have the perfect solution,” Jaclyn says, as if we’ve all been waiting for her to solve this issue. “Take a cruise and then go to Vegas.”

“I said the same thing,” I interject.

“Good. It’s settled,” Jaclyn says. “Now Vivi, I’ve been dying to talk to you about something important.”

“Really? What?” I ask. My sister and I don’t have important conversations very often.

“Mac Evans. I heard he’s back.”

My stomach twists—no doubt it’s probably nausea.

“So. What does that have to do with me?”

“You’re friends with him, right? He’s a famous hockey player now.”

“We aren’t friends,” I say flatly.

She makes a face. “Sure you are. You used to hang out with him all the time.”

“No. I hung out with Katie. And Mac hung out with her brother.”

She waves her hand. “Details, details. Anyway, can you set up an introduction for me and my friends?”

What? Is she serious?

“I remember Mac,” Mom chimes in. “He was always around. Why would you say you aren’t friends with him?”

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