Page 364 of Under Her Skin
Both brothers laughed, and the waiter nodded. He knew these Gallo brothers—they had been coming to this restaurant for a few years now and were good tippers. They treated him with respect, unlike their asshole brotherJackson.
The restaurant itself was mid-range and less flashy than the places Jackson liked. It had a frontage, which opened out onto a jetty overlooking of the Bay. They sat outside so Enda could smoke. Olivier grinned at him as he lit up a cigarette. “You ever going to giveup?”
Enda squinted through the smoke. “Probablynot.”
Olivier grinned. “Fair enough. How have you been? I didn’t get to see you much at thewedding.”
“As I recall, you were doing your best man thing, trying to keep the toddler undercontrol.”
Olivier rolled his eyes. “Mostly for Amalia’s benefit. Poor kid looked shell-shocked.”
“She’s nokid.”
Olivier’s eyes opened wide. “You don’t likeher?”
“I didn’t say that. I just meant, she’s a grown woman. She knew what she was gettinginto.”
Olivier chewed his lip for a moment. “She did it for her sister,Enda.”
Enda nodded. “I’m just saying …it sucks forher.”
“Yep.”
They paused while the waiter brought their wine and they ordered their food. Enda sat back and took a slug of red wine. “She’sbeautiful.”
“Who?”
Enda rolled his eyes. “Our brother’s newwife.”
“Of course. Sorry. Yes, she is. Also, brilliant, funny, andsmart.”
Enda nodded. “She also seems to have …what is the word …empathy?” He pronounced it ‘em-patty.’
“Like I said, she’s asweetheart.”
“You like her?” Enda grinned at Olivier’s eye-roll.
“As mysister, yes.” Olivier chuckled. “If it’s any of your business, I’m seeingsomeone.”
“Oh, yes? Wait, please tell me it’s not that blonde from the realityshow?”
Olivier laughed. “No. That was …jeez, what was I thinking? Anyway, no. She’s a journalist from San Diego. Helena. Early days, but yeah, she’scool.”
Enda looked skeptical. “Ajournalist?”
Olivier grinned. “Not that kind. She’s focused on business and financial stuff. I like her.” Their food arrived then—steamed salmon for Olivier, rare, bloody steak and garlic butter for Enda. Olivier shook his head, laughing. “Dude, you are a walking heartattack.”
Enda grinned, his smile lighting up his intense features. “Hedonism is my defaultposition.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Olivier cleared his throat. “So, what did youthink?”
“Ofwhat?”
“Amalia.”
“She’sbeautiful.”
“You saidthat.”
