Page 16 of Break: Vol. 2

I watched them for any signs of tension, but thankfully there were none. I wondered what they talked about as Dex led us through the crowd to a large circular table in the back where a woman in her early fifties with bleached blonde hair was sitting next to a younger man. As we approached the younger man stood. He was just as tall as Dex, with the same coloring and features.

“Mother, Stephan,” Dex said, “these are my friends.” He gestured for me, and I moved closer to his side. “And this is my girlfriend, Jamie.”

The woman lifted her martini glass—filled with a clear liquid and two olives—and sipped daintily. She didn’t lift her eyes to meet mine, simply nodded and continued sipping until the drink was completely gone before she lifted a slender hand, signaling the waiter for another.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jamie.” Stephan leaned across the table, extending a hand, and I reached out to take it.

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“I’m Dex’s brother,” he said.

“Yes, I figured. You look too young to be a father,” I replied.

Taylor snorted a laugh, and Stephan smiled. At least I was in the good graces of one of Dex’s relatives. Dex pulled out my chair and we all sat. Waiters came around, taking our drink orders and after so much alcohol, I decided it was time to cool down with some water.

“Mom, Jamie goes to the same school as me,” Dex said.

“Does she, dear?” I lifted my eyebrows as she drained her next drink in half the time of the first. For all she intoned, she could have been talking about the weather.

“What’s your major?” Stephan asked.

“I’m in communications,” I answered. “Well, really a double major. I started out with just one, but last year I added a second. I’m in communications and English.”

“Interesting.” He edged his elbows on the pristine tablecloth and steepled his fingers, resting his chin there as he watched me. “Is there a dream job out there for you?”

I shrugged, scratching my neck as I searched for an answer. “I’m sure there is,” I said. “There always is.”

Cody, knowing full well how uncomfortable talking about future plans made me, jumped in for the save. “How old are you Stephan? Dex doesn’t tell us much about his family. Are you an older brother? Younger?”

Stephan chuckled, unweaving his fingers as he sat back and turned his gaze to Cody. “You flatter me,” he said. “I’m his older brother. I’m working on my residency in New York.”

“Residency?” I asked. “You’re a doctor?”

“Hoping to be,” he replied, lifting his glass and taking a sip.

“So, what brought you here?” Darren asked. “On the cruise.”

“Well, Mother called me a few days ago, said she heard Dexter had planned a cruise trip with friends. He wasn’t picking up the phone,” Stephan looked at Dex who stiffened in his seat, “so, we thought we’d hop on board to surprise him.”

“I’m surprised you could get time off work on such short notice,” Darren replied.

I reached down, sliding my hand under the table and over to Dex’s lap. When I curled my hand around his, he weaved our fingers together and cast me a grateful look.

“It’s not a big deal. Anything for Mother and Dexter.”

Dex squeezed my hand as the waiter came by and took our order. The rest of the conversation went much the same. When my lasagna was delivered, Dex's mom sent a scathing look at the plate in front of me before scoffing and ordering another drink. Halfway through the meal, Dex’s mom was on her fifth martini, and I watched out of the corner of my eye as she picked at the leafy green salad with minimal dressing on her plate, feeling foolish and out of place. I looked down at my stomach and slowly put my fork down and simply held my napkin in my lap.

Cody leaned closer from my other side and whispered, “Are you feeling okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, just not as hungry as I thought,” I lied. In fact, I was fucking starving. But Dex’s mom did not stop glaring at my plate the entire time we sat there. I didn’t know why I wanted her to like me considering she hadn’t said one word to me and hardly even looked at me.

When the dinner was over, I was more than happy to clutch onto the easiest excuse to leave. “I’m kind of tired from all the excitement today,” I said. “I think I’m going to go back and lie down.”

“Hey, I’ll walk you back,” Cody offered.

Stephan looked at us strangely, but Dex leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you later,” he promised.

I nodded as Cody led me away.

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