Page 76 of Actions and Reactions
Yeah, that was awful. It made me miss Silas for yet another reason.
“I think you did well in that too.” Michael’s voice comes from next to Mom and she turns the phone toward him.
I smile at him, showing him how glad I am to see him. It’s good that I don’t have to ask to talk to him specifically, that would make this whole thing awkward, so it’s completely genuine.
“Thanks. They caught me off guard, honestly.” Because they asked about Dad and Ally, and I didn’t know what to do.
“Saying you’re happy to have your family supporting you was the perfect non-answer,” Michael confirms and nods sagely.
“Oh, God, I can’t wait any more,” Mom shouts and flipsthe camera back to her. “What did you think of Ally? And Lex? What is your Dad like with her? He’s so cute, isn’t he? All bashful and in loooove.”
I snort at her swooning, and just at the corner of my screen I can see Michael smiling at her exactly like Ally was smiling at Dad.
“I think it’s safe to say both Lex and I liked her. She obviously makes Dad happy—she’s even learning all about hockey—and that’s all we’ve ever wanted for you two, so we’re happy too.” I see those words hit Mom hard so I point a warning finger at her face. “Don’t,” I warn. “Hold the tears in, Mom.”
“I can’t!” she cries, and then all I see is movement. “Talk to him while I cry,” she tells Michael and then his face is right there. Just like me, he’s shaking his head, but with a smile on his face. I can’t hold the crying against her because I bet she’s been praying to hear something like this from me for damn near years, which shames me a bit, but we’ll all get over it. She’s also not that much of a crier normally, so I know it’ll pass soon.
“You’re the perfect guy to ask,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual. “What does the world think of Hulk datingtheAlaina Newman?”
“Hah,” he barks out one laugh in his reserved way. “There might be some beauty-and-the-beast comparisons going around.”
“Dad’s not a beast,” I scoff, because... well, because I look just like him and I’m a very handsome man, thank you very much. Thankfully, Michael laughs too.
“I think the general public is loving it, but there were some not-so-nice comments about how EMP is producing her next movie,” he says, mentioning one of the studios he owns, the one based in LA. “And how that has to be awkward, and blah, blah, blah.” I really appreciate the way he rolls his eyes at that. “As if I haven’t financed fifteen other films she’s been in.”
“And she was gushing about you and Mom last night too,” I add, defending her to no one since he’s obviously on the same side as me.
“No matter how much proof there is to the contrary, the world will never get over your parents divorcing. They’ll always think there’s this big scandal we’re all keeping secret,” he says and sighs.
“Whatever. Those outside opinions don’t matter, Mich.” I figure on the spot it’s high time he gets a nickname. “We know the truth.”
“Yeah, we do!” Mom shouts from somewhere far away.
“Hey, I have an idea if you’ve got time.” And this just seems even more important right now, because in every article where they insinuate something nefarious went on behind the scenes, Mich is always the one who comes out looking like a bad guy, and I really don’t like that, I realize. And since there’s something I think we can do about it, I think we should.
“Sure, what’s up?” He’s all business all of a sudden, and it pains me a little that he thinks I’m always going to talk to him in a business capacity.
“Why don’t you fly down with Mom and spend sometime here? If you’ve got the time to spare, that is. I can get Dad to come for a weekend or something, and we can shut everybody up, living it up in the casino or some shit like that.”
I get another laugh, this time a bit louder.
“I’ve got the time, yeah, and I bet Eli would love to have the house to himself.”
I snort at that because my stepbrother does like his space.
“I can get you four some good tickets for Sterling’s show, and you can even come to the first game of the season in a couple of weeks. Gab would love to have you, I’m sure.”
“That’s such a nice idea, Vinny,” Mom says, still sniffling, but closer this time.
“I’ll make sure to be there,” Michael adds. “And I like the nickname.” He winks at me, and so from now on, he’s Mich.
19
Silas
I’ve been crying almostnon-stop for two fucking days.
So much so that when my parents see me Sunday morning, they’re properly concerned.
