Page 106 of Touch Me

“Ella!” Jess chastises her but still giggles.

“What? Not like you weren’t thinking it. She could put someone’s eye out with those things.”

Max sighs and rests his chin in his hand and looks at the waitress. Ella leans over. “Been awhile, has it?”

Max immediately straightens up and clears his throat. “What? No. Not at all. All good over here.”

“That was convincing. Here’s a napkin for the drool.” She passes a napkin over and Max snatches it away, throwing it on the table.

“I wasn’t drooling,” he scoffs. “She just reminds me of someone.”

“Dolly Parton?”

“You know what—”

“Are we done with the gift giving already?”

We turn toward the voice behind us and find Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster.

“We would have been here sooner, had we actually been invited,” Mr. Lancaster says, pulling out a chair for his wife.

“Happy birthday, dear,” his mom says, with a genuine smile.

It’s a shame she got caught up in the feud between Jace and his dad; she was always so sweet and caring. I do remember her standing up for Jace before, but apparently it didn’t happen enough for him to want to keep in close contact with her.

Jace smiles at his mom.

“How did you know we were here?” Jess asks, eyes bouncing between her parents.

“Jack mentioned it,” his dad said, raising his fingers to snap at the waitress. Jess and Jace both shrink in their seats, embarrassed by his disrespect to the staff. “Is there a reason we weren’t told about the celebration?”

Right before my eyes, I see Jace clam up and lose every bit of confidence he had. His hands white knuckle the sides of his chair while his leg bounces under the table.

“Just trying to keep it small and quiet,” Jess answers with no fervor behind her words.

I don’t think she would have any problem speaking with more authority to her father, but the way she keeps eyeing Jace, I can see she is trying to keep things calm for him.

“Wouldn’t want to scare the birthday boy, huh?”

“James, that’s enough,” Mrs. Lancaster says with finality.

About fucking time.

Tomi makes her way over, apparently purposely taking her time after she was snapped at, not that I can blame her.

“We won’t be needing anything, sweetie. We aren’t staying.” His mom speaks before his dad can order a drink. They are locked in a stare-off and he breaks eye contact first.

“Well, here’s your gift then and we’ll get going.” Mr. Lancaster slides an envelope down the table.

Jace opens a card and a business card falls out. He picks it up and looks at his dad.

“It’s a friend of mine that runs a firm in town. He’s willing to interview you. All you have to do is make the call.” His dad taps on the table as Jace stares at the card.

“Well, thank you, but I have a job.” He stuffs the card back in the envelope and pushes it to the middle of the table.

“Sitting in your apartment all day in front of a computer isn’t a job. Or do you mean those silly little pictures you’re always taking.”

The entire table is silent, no one even looks like they’re breathing. I was just about to open my mouth and put Mr. Lancaster in his place.

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