Page 137 of Mountain Daddy
Sweet guilt-laden Jesus, I’m not going to survive today.
Why didn’t I think about this possibility? Of course Luther’s employees would be invited.
And didn’t he just say Diego made the food? Is he here too?
I only saw him for a moment, so maybe he won’t remember me.
I think about the bartender. I saw her for a lot more than a moment.
But maybe her memory isn’t great. Maybe she won’t remember me.
Pretty fucking please, don’t remember me.
The woman’s eyes lock with mine, and that’s all it takes for me to know she remembers everything.
I’m going to be sick.
A warm palm presses against the center of my back.
He shouldn’t.
Not with everyone around.
But…
I lean into him, just the smallest bit.
Luther steps up next to me, his side pressing against my shoulder. “Kendra, this is my sister, Jessie. Jessie, this is Kendra, Joe’s daughter.”
I feel like my eyes are about to fall out of my head.
I’m fucking sorry, did he just say sister?
Luther increases the pressure on my back, like he’s worried I might just drop my plate and run.
Honestly, it’s a good option.
Jessie stands and holds her hand out to me over the table. “Nice to meet you, Kendra. So funny because I’ve heard Joe talk about you, but he always calls you Kenny.”
Setting my plate on the table, I shake her hand, when what I really want to shake is Luther. With my hands around his throat.
“So funny.” I try to laugh, but it sounds like a choke.
That day at the bake sale, Courtney mentioned something about Luther’s sister being there before us, but then my dad showed up, and then the park ranger showed up, and then I completely forgot about it.
Iforgot about it. But Luther sure as shit shouldn’t have.
I glance up at Luther, and he gives me an apologetic expression.
“Men.” Jessie provides, reading the situation correctly.
I huff. “Seriously.”
“Sorry,” Luther whispers.
We ignore him as I take the seat across from Jessie, and we both sit.
I want to say something, but I don’t know what I can say here, in the open.
