Page 206 of Restless
Heaving in a breath, Meggie pasted a smile on her face.
JaZuria tittered. “That’s right, you don’t have staff for the evening and must serve your own guests. Better you than me.”
“Where is Mattie?” Roxy cut in.
Either she knew Meggie was reaching her breaking point or she was at hers and changed the subject to save an eruption.
“You’re right, Roxanne,” Johnnie said. “Kendall, where is our daughter?”
Kendall shrugged, unperturbed. She knew as well as Meggie that Mattie was hiding. “She’s in the house, Johnnie.”
“She should be at the table.”
“Maybe, she’s not hungry, Dad,” Rory said in exasperation.
“She’s being rude,” Johnnie said flatly. “JJ didn’t want to come, so he stayed home. She attended so she should be with the family.”
“Johnnie, enough. Okay?” Kendall said sharply.
A different disaster loomed if Johnnie continued down his current path. If he didn’t see it, Meggie recognized that Kendall was reaching the end of her patience. Usually, anarchy followed.
“I want her at the tablenow,Kendall,” Johnnie ordered.
Kendall gritted her teeth but nodded. “I’ll text her and tell her to come to the dining room.”
“Johnnie, back the fuck off Kendall,” Christopher said coldly. “I fucking swear if…” He looked at CJ and drew in a deep breath. “We talkin’—”
“Kendall’s my fucking wife, Christopher. Worry about your own.”
“He does, Dad,” Rory said, a little too calmly for Meggie’s comfort. “Much more than you worry about Mom.”
“Leave our family business where it belongs, son,” Johnnie barked.
“He is, Uncle Johnnie,” Rule said serenely.
Meggie blinked. Speaking of calm… “Er, Rule…”
Rebel tugging on Diesel’s sleeve captured Meggie’s attention. When he leaned his head toward her, she whispered in his ear and he smiled, genuine amusement on his face.
Meggie cocked her head to the side, watching Rebel flush and purse her lips. All at once, she recognized a problem. Rebel hadn’t stopped crushing on Diesel. She’d just changed tactics.
This was so very bad. Meggie trusted Diesel to keep his distance while Rebel was underage, but in just over three years she’d turn eighteen.
And…crap.
Swallowing, Meggie glanced at Christopher. Rebel’s outmaneuvering of him and Diesel went right over his head. He was still distracted byher.
“Mom?” Rule said. “Do you need something?”
“Um, no,” he head buzzing withsituations.
“I’ll start dishing out the soup,” Bunny said, breezing by Meggie.
“I’ll help,” Meggie said, rising. “Rebel—”
“You’re fine, Meggie,” Bunny said. “Rest. I’ll—”
“What are you wearing, Matilda Donovan?” Johnnie roared, shoving back from his chair and storming to his feet.
