Page 65 of When the Storm Breaks
“Don’t worry,” Lila assured Patrick, falling into her role as mediator. “It’s going to be great. We’ll make it special.”
“It’s already special,” Patrick grumbled, taking offense. “I made her a table big enough to fit the whole family. What more could a woman want? And she loves that restaurant. It has an open barbecue pit.”
“Youlove that restaurant,” Gideon said. “Although calling that place a restaurant is like calling a McDonald’s burger wagyu beef.”
Patrick glared at him. Like always, Gideon ignored it and continued checking his emails or his big bank account or whatever he did on his phone 24/7.
“Your mother’s just happy to have her whole family together,” Patrick said, and that at least was true. It was the only thing Kate ever wanted for any holiday and it made her happy when we were all gathered in one place. Somehow, she was the only one who didn’t notice the tension when we were all together. “She doesn’t like those fancy Michelin-starred restaurants you frequent.”
“She loved it when I took her to Nobu last year,” Gideon said.
Jesse added, “She was pretty chill with the vegan cafe I took her to in SoCal. And you should really do a better job of eating heart-healthy food,” he told Patrick then rolled out his shoulder and winced, not even noticing the glare Patrick threw his way.
I exhaled loudly, ready to get out of here. “Are we done now? Just tell me where and when and I’ll be there.” What the hell was so complicated about this?
“Brody has to get back to his lady love,” Lila teased. “She’s coming tomorrow, right?”
“Nah. Not her kind of thing.” I realized my mistake too late. If I’d been smart, I would have denied even having a ‘lady love.’
Lila’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? She would love it. Oh my god, you haven’t even invited her, have you?”
“Hang on. Brody has agirlfriend?” Jesse asked. The way he said it you would think he’d just been informed there was a crop circle in the back field and aliens were about to invade the planet.
“The fuck?” Gideon pocketed his phone and fixed his gaze on me, the discussion suddenly capturing his interest.
I raked my hand through my hair. “Thanks, L.”
“Anytime, B.”
Jude laughed. Figures he’d enjoy this.
“Who is she?” Jesse asked.
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Jude said smugly. “From where I’m sitting it looks a hell of a lot like a relationship.”
He’d seen us together at one family Sunday dinner and suddenly he was an expert. Typical Jude. “I’ve only known her for a month.”
“That’s completely irrelevant.” His gaze settled on me. “You can know someone for over twenty years andthinkyou’re in love with them. Until you meet someone who makes you realize she was the one who was meant for you all along.”
My eyes narrowed on him. That son of a bitch.
Lila laughed. “Jude, what are you talking about?”
“Brody knows exactly what I’m talking about. Don’t you,B?”
For a few seconds, there was total silence. Nobody said a word. I should have denied it. Called him an asshole. Told him he didn’t know jack shit. I should have walked away. I should have done a lot of things.
“This isn’t awkward,” Jesse said. “Maybe we should give them some privacy.”
“Fuck that.” Gideon leaned forward in his seat and rubbed his hands together. “I’ve been waiting for this day for ten years. Where’s the popcorn?”
“Oh hell, here we go,” Patrick muttered.
“Brody...” Lila’s brow furrowed, trying to make sense of this. If I’d have laughed it off, the crisis could have been averted. But no, stupid me hadn’t said a goddamn word. Why the hell was I still standing in this barn under everyone’s scrutiny?
“You’re not... you were never...” Lila let her words trail off then looked around at the others, the realization dawning on her that she was the last to know something that had been all too obvious to every person in this barn. Her eyes widened, and her hand went to her heart. “Oh my God.”
