Page 102 of Beautiful, Violent

“No,” Frenchie answers. “But if you stop at Albertson’s on the way back to your place, I wouldn’t mind picking up some Ding Dongs for later.”

“You and your damn Ding Dongs,” Ben says.

Frenchie starts laughing, then Ben, and before I know it, Danny is failing at holding back a smile.

“Ask my brother to tell you the Ding Dong story later. If he’s not too embarrassed.”

Ben looks at me and shakes his head admonishingly. “You don’t need to hear it.”

“Oh, fine. I’ll tell her. So …” Frenchie leans across the table and presses her hands together, eyes lit up bright like she’s about to reveal the winning lottery numbers. “A few years back, I had a party to celebrate my new job. And for once I was the responsible one.”

“Because I was there and she had to be,” Danny says, raising his hand.

“Right. Anyway, Ben came over early to help me get ready, had a few beers, helped me get the grill set up and the steaks marinated. I noticed he was drinking a lot and I’d told him that dinner would be served later than usual. He started complaining about being hungry, so I shoved a box of those cakes in his face, kind of jokingly suggested he eat that box to hold him over until the steaks were done. Well, he must have taken me literally because—”

“Oh good god, woman,” Ben interrupts her then turns in my direction. “Long story short, I got ripped, ate half a box of ‘em, and puked them all up. The end.”

Frenchie and Danny start laughing. “You didn’t just puke them up. You projectile vomited. Like, violently. Thank goodness you were outside when it happened or I’d have had to hire professionals for the cleanup.”

“Enough, okay?” Ben is starting to sound agitated. My gaze floats back and forth between him and his sister, slightly amused. But I have to wonder if this is an attempt to distract me from the new elephant in the room.

Frenchie looks at me and makes a vomit gesture, then swoops her fingers over her nostrils, mouthing “out his nose” at me.

I just smile and look his way, then caress his shoulder patronizingly.

“Really interesting story, huh?” he asks.

“Riveting.”

“Well, anyway, I like to torment my brother with that retelling. He’s so easy to antagonize. It’s why he doesn’t drink that much anymore.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” I tell her.

Within minutes, Ben and Frenchie are laughing about something else. Danny is on his phone, quiet but seemingly calm. As much as they bicker they do seem to be close and otherwise get along. I want to feel like I’m a part of it but I don’t. Not yet. Maybe someday I will. But for now I’m way too distracted and anxious to get Ben alone to question him.

Ben takes care of the check and lets his sister and nephew walk ahead to the car. He chirps it unlocked and puts his hand on my arm.

“Hey.”

Tense, I turn to face him. He can tell I’m mad. He has to be able to tell.

“I was thinking I could drop them off at my place first?”

“Whatever you want,” I mutter, then walk to his car. I think about addressing the issue at hand but I don’t want to get into a fight in a parking lot with his family right here. That’s just tacky.

When we pull into his driveway Danny is the first one out. Frenchie opens her door and rubs Ben’s head. “Thanks for dinner, bro.”

“You’re welcome,” he answers, flicking his gaze to the rearview mirror.

“Good seeing you again, Tove.”

“You too,” I smile. “Have a safe trip up to Flag.”

“Thanks. There’s supposedly a really awesome skate park there. Plus I promised to let him go ziplining. That’ll make the trip easier. Let me know where you’re staying tonight so I don’t worry,” she adds, tapping Ben on the arm.

“Alright.”

Once she’s in the house, Ben backs out of the driveway and quietly gets back on the road.

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