Page 52 of Caught Up

“Sorry, Moira,” Josh said. “Myfiancéejust wanted to show off her ring.”

Mom made a noise I’d never heard before, halfway between a sob and a shriek, and launched herself at Aly. The sight rocked me back on my heels. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her so happy, grinning and laughing like she didn’t have a care in the world. It made me feel like a bastard for staying away, for not spending more time with her. My brothers and I could escape our father; Mom was stuck with him.

Fuck, I hoped I was able to get free of Dad without risking my relationship with her.

As if I’d summoned him, Dad came racing out of the doorway, gun drawn, my brothers hot on his heels. “What is it? I heard you—” He caught sight of Mom pulling back from Aly and lowered the gun. “Why’d you scream, Moira? Jesus, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

“They’re engaged,” Mom said, holding up Aly’s hand.

My gaze lasered in on Dad, watching his eyes pinch and his mouth pucker as the news set in.

Be nice for once in your fucking life, I thought.

“I guess I should go get the good champagne,” he muttered, stalking away.

Mom let out a sigh of relief. For Dad, that was as nice as it got.

The longest hour of my life later, we finally sat down to dinner. I was supposed to meet Lauren at nine thirty, and I kept checking my phone for the time. At this rate, I’d have to run out of here as soon as we were done eating.

“You know the rule,” Dad griped. “No phones at the dinner table.”

I set it face down next to my plate. “I’m waiting on something from Vinny.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Dad eyed me, most likely wondering what the fuck I could be waiting on, but I held his gaze with unflinching focus, silently daring him to say something else. Mom chose that moment to clear her throat, a subtle reminder that first and foremost, we never discussed business during dinner.

Reluctantly, Dad turned to Aly. “June works best.”

She paused, plate held aloft while Josh spooned some salad onto it for her. “For what?”

“Your wedding,” Dad said. “The garden is at its peak then, and that’ll give us plenty of time to send out invitations.” His gaze slid to Josh. “Or for you to change your mind.”

Mom narrowed her eyes at Dad.

Aly’s glare was just as steely. “First off, we literally just got engaged. We haven’t even started planning yet, and second—”

“Good,” Dad interrupted, reaching for the stuffed shells Greg passed his way. “That means you’re not in any rush.” His focus dropped to where the table hid Aly’s stomach from sight. “I didn’t know if you’d just put on a couple of pounds, or if you were expecting.”

Shock rippled through the room. Shit, he’d gone there.

“Nico,” Mom hissed.

The table rattled as Josh pushed back from it, his expression darkening in a way that didn’t bode well for my father. I was half tempted to say something, but out of everyone here, Josh and Aly needed the least help defending themselves, and I wasn’t trying to make myself a target tonight.

“Everyone, relax,” Dad said, grinning in a way that made my hackles rise. “It was a joke. She’s, like, two percent body fat.”

Across from me, Alec shoved a forkful of cheesy pasta into his mouth and spoke around it. “Women don’t like it when you joke about their weight.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Dad sniped, gaze shifting to Aly. “Sorry for thinking you were less sensitive than other women.”

Mom threw back her glass of wine like it was a shot, muttering darkly.

“Secondly,” Aly continued like she’d never been interrupted, “I’m not going to change my mind about marrying Josh.”

Dad’s expression turned calculating. “Lot of time before now and next June.”

Aly shook her head. “Who said anything about us waiting that long?”

“I told you,” Dad said. “The garden—”

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