Page 35 of Love & Other Disasters

Fifteen

“Such a nice young man,” her mom exclaimed, swooning over J.P. Stupid move bringing him in when he’s the contrast to Geoff. He stepped in and carried that heavy pan, giving her a view of his biceps, shoulders, and back. She’d put his lean muscled physique out of her mind and didn’t think about it with him wearing suits all week. But that fitted t-shirt stretched over his shoulders reminded her of their night together. This was a mistake. She’d meant to torture him in this crazy mess, and not give him the opportunity to charm her parents and make her fantasize naughty things at the same time.

“Here, Vi,” J.P. said, bringing her out of her head. He’d pulled a chair out for her. Yep, he would win over her parents easy. He was good with people, and charismatic. How did she forget that? She still couldn’t believe he was there, sitting beside her at her parents dining room table. Next to her, he placed his napkin in his lap, minding his manners.

“Well, I guess those of you who don’t want to do this the traditional way, hand me your plate,” Jill huffed. And everyone, except the dumbass passed their plates.

“How did I forget the pitcher of tea?” her mom said, after Jill filled their plates.

“I’ll get it, Mrs. Murphy,” J.P. said, standing. “I’m closest to the door.”

Would he run out of the back door and ditch this craziness?

He returned, pitcher in hand, while her mom continued to swoon.

“J.P. what do you do for a living?” her dad asked.

“I’m the Chief Financial Officer for Medi-Health.”

“Wait, that’s where you work,” Jill pounced.

“We knew each other before,” J.P. didn’t miss a beat. “Met through a college buddy of mine, and lost touch for a little while. I didn’t know where she worked.”

“How funny,” her mom said. But Violet was having a hard time getting her lungs to work. He was telling them the literal truth, and she wasn’t sure where that would stop.

“God works in mysterious ways.” Her mom smiled.

“And has a sense of humor,” Violet muttered.

J.P. shot her a grin that could melt a chastity belt. And dang it, she hated that.

“You’re helping turn that place around,” her dad said.

“I’m trying my best, sir.”

“Y’all had to let all those people go. That’s never easy.”

“It is not,” he agreed.

Violet pushed the paella around her plate, she’d sampled different pieces searching to find one that did not taste burned. It was all she could find. And despite the total nerve wracking experience, her stomach grumbled. How could she be hungry at a time like this? This was the worst evening ever.

“If you don’t turn that corporation around, it isn’t the end of the world,” Geoff said. And Violet tensed. “All corporations are blood sucking evil entities that have never done a bit of good in this world.”

“They provide jobs so people can take care of their families, invent technologies that help the world, and oh, I don’t know, how about the whole advancement of modern medicine.” J.P. said, then scooted some of the paella to the other side of his plate. It amazed her he didn’t raise his voice, he sounded like he was ordering from a menu. “So, what is it you do, Geoff?”

“I’m a Shaman in The Order of the Protectors.”

“What are you protecting, exactly?”

“The earth, my brother. We were all better off when we were hunters and gatherers in-tune with the planet and not destroying it,” Geoff replied indignant. “Then greed took over.”

“Oh for god’s sake, can’t we have normal dinner conversation around here?” her dad asked. He frowned as he pushed his food around his plate.

The paella was inedible, and yet somehow Geoff was eating it. Even Jill didn’t seem to touch her food, and Violet worried for her sister. She’d spent time cooking with care, and no one could eat it. How embarrassing. Then a fresh pang tore through her remembering what Jill said when she didn’t know Violet was in earshot. And irritation grew as Jill sat there in silence, yet again, unable or unwilling to do anything about her boyfriend’s behavior at dinner.

A warm hand squeezed her knee and moved up her thigh; she glanced at the owner of that hand. J.P. was watching her, concern in his eyes. She buried the hurt and sadness and smiled at him. He didn’t look convinced, and that was odd, most people believed her when she hid her genuine feelings.

“Forgive me for trying to save the planet,” Geoff muttered.

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