Page 109 of The Merger
Tate: I don’t know who you’ve been spending your time with but they’re stupid.
If you only knew …
Me: I’m walking into dinner with Dad and Aurora.
Tate: Yup. Stupid.
Me: I have to agree with you on this one.
Tate: All jokes aside, want me to come save you and your hot stepmommy?
Me: I thought you said all jokes aside.
Tate: I did.
I roll my eyes.
Me: You should be coming to save me, not my stepmom.
Tate: Have you seen her?
I drop my phone into my purse and step to the hostess table. “Hi, I’m here for the Johnson party.”
“Yes,” the man behind the podium says. “Follow me.”
“Thanks.”
He leads me to a table in the back corner of the room. Dad, Aurora, and another couple sit at a round table talking. My father looks up, his eyes meeting mine before he looks away without acknowledging me.
Why am I here?
My nerves fray as I approach the table. I paint on the biggest smile I can manage. “Hey, everyone.”
“Carys,” Aurora says, her eyes lighting up. “I’m so glad you could come. Have a seat.”
She motions toward an empty chair between her and a dark-haired woman.
“These are our friends Gabe and Rochelle,” Aurora says as I sit. “Guys, this is Kent’s daughter, Carys.”
Rochelle’s smile is kind. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
“Kent, I didn’t know you had a kid,” Gabe says, before tipping back his beer.
I dip my chin to hide my flaming cheeks.This isn’t awkward at all.
“Yeah, I was married to her mom for a while,” Dad says as if that explains things.
“What do you do, Carys?” Rochelle asks, side-eyeing my father.
“She has the coolest job, Ro,” Aurora says.
“I own a small business called Plantcy,” I say. “It’s a mobile plant care company.”
Gabe chuckles. “They say there’s a niche for everything.”
“It’s really taking off,” I say, hoping my father’s listening. “I’m in the process of executing contracts with an up-and-coming artist and a chef. And I work for a huge corporation downtown.”
“Which one?” Gabe asks.
