Page 138 of Dangerous Encore
They laugh as they take plates and silverware to the table. I find the red wine, pop it open, and pour four glasses. Mal only drinks on specialoccasions.
Does this qualify? I'mnotsure.
I can finish his glass if he doesn't want it. Then a third. Fourth. Maybe the entire bottle. That might be enough to settle mystomach.
My deep breath steadies my hands enough I can bring the glasses into the main room, two atatime.
Mom places the food in the center of thetable.
Dad heads inside, shoots me a thumbs up, then goes to the kitchen to wash hishands.
Mal pulls out my chairforme.
Mom shoots him a nod of approval. "I never thought you'd find anyone nicer than Adam, but youmayhave."
I takemyseat.
Mal follows. "I'm not sure I rate as nice, but thank you,Judith."
She's already asking him to call her by her first name. No, that's normal. Dad did itrightaway.
I'm too workeduphere.
"How is Adam?" Mom twirls pasta around her fork. "It's been awhilenow."
"Two years. He's good. He's dating someone from work." I take a huge bite of pasta. Mmm. Carbs, red sauce, Parmesan, garlic. This is Mom's spaghetti and meatballs and it's as good as Irememberit.
"You don't mind that, Mal?"Momasks.
"Why would I?" Mal's expression stays pleasant, but there's something in his posture. He doesn't like thequestion.
Becauseit'strue?
Or because it's the kind of question that drives couplesapart?
"Your fiancée still in touch with her ex? You never get jealous?"Momasks.
"No." Mal's brow furrows. "WhywouldI?"
"She was with him for years. Four years, right?"Momasks.
I bite my lip. "Yeah." What's shegettingat?
"You loved him. Didn't you?"Momasks.
"What's that matter?" I play with my pasta. This can't be an accident. Is she actually trying to make Mal jealous of Adam? I don't see anotherexplanation.
"When I was younger, I couldn't stand your father talking to other women much less his exes. It's good you're more… enlightened." She takes a dainty bite and dabs her lips with hernapkin.
"It's more that I know I'm Lacey's favorite." Mal taps his knee against mine under the table. "Unless you have something totellme."
"No. You are. In every way." I take another bite and chew slowly. "Adam is a good guy. We'refriends."
"It's good to stay friends. Too much jealousy is bad for your heart,"Dadsays.
"True. But it can't always be helped." Mom turns to me. "Howiswork?"
"Good. Busy. I'm doing a ton of different projects. But nothing for the… well, the holidays are a littleslower."
