Page 80 of Inviting Trouble
“That’s enough,” her dad snapped. “Tina has given you a humble apology and I expect you to speak to her respectfully.”
“I’m out,” Josh said. He grabbed his coat and left, the door shutting quietly behind him. It might as well have been a slam for the sudden tense silence.
Her dad let out a long breath. “Why don’t you two have a seat,” he said to Mad and Logan, the two youngest in the family.
Logan sat on the sofa, so Mad did too.
Her dad slid an arm around Tina. “Things have been going really well and we plan on getting remarried.”
“After two weekends of middle-aged fucking?” Mad blurted.
Tina gasped. Her dad let the remark slide.
Logan shot her a look and then turned back to their dad. “What’s the rush?”
“Tina needs a place to stay and we have plenty of room,” her dad said.
“So shack up with her,” Mad said. “I’m sure she’ll bail again as soon as the next wealthy acquaintance puts out word he needs a trophy wife.”
“I’m too old to be a trophy wife,” Tina said, acting all modest.
“Get some plastic surgery,” Mad suggested. “I’m sure you’ll be snatched up by some old moneybags real quick.”
“Mad,” her dad said in a low warning.
Logan muttered under his breath at her, “No filter,” and then louder, “Okay. Thanks for letting us know.” He stood and snagged Mad’s arm, pulling her with him. “We’re going to go. Bye, Tina.”
Mad went out the door with Logan, glad to get away from Tina. And especially the hold she seemed to have over Mad’s dad.
Logan stopped on the sidewalk, quickly shed his black down jacket and settled it over her shoulders. She was too distraught to protest the big-brother move.
“You got somewhere to go for a couple weeks?” he asked.
“You think I should move out?”
“Yeah. I think if we leave them alone, she’ll get bored and restless in the burbs and look for the next guy to latch onto.”
“Ya think?”
He nodded. “You see how dolled up she was just for a Monday night family meeting? And there’s dad in a flannel shirt and ancient jeans. He can’t keep up with her. Couldn’t back then and definitely not now.”
“I so want to believe you’re right.”
“I’d invite you to my place, but Ethan’s buddy’s got the sofa.”
“Nah, that’s okay. I’ll crash at Hailey’s place. She owes me for snagging a robber at Ludbury House.”
“Please tell me you’re not doing citizen arrests.”
“I’m not doing citizen arrests.”
“Don’t tell me anything else.”
“I’m with Park now.”
He flashed a smile. “Good for you. You’ve always loved him.”
“How do you know that?”
