“I’m sure Addie will convince her to go.” Not that I’ve mentioned it yet. One step at a time with this one.
“I meant what I said about having her over for Thanksgiving dinner. I’d rather encourage your relationships with nice girls.” Nice girls, ha. Dad would shit if he knew Jensen is a topless waitress. “Though I wish Park was the one getting serious.” He sends Park a pointed look, who’s moving back into his own chair.
“It’s not serious, Dad. We’ve really only just met,” I tell him, but I’m kind of full of shit. I don’t want to think of anyone else. I don’t want to see anyone else. I’ve ditched all my friends, my frat brothers. I haven’t gone to a party since I’ve met Jensen. Only the bachelor party for Emmett, and thank Christ I went to that, or else I might’ve never seen Jensen again.
Yeah, this will get serious. As long as she’s straight with me, I can see this working between Jensen and me.
“She looks at you with adoring eyes,” Dad says, chuckling.
“No, she doesn’t,” I start to protest, but Park interrupts me.
“Yeah, she does. It’s kind of disgusting.”
Trent laughs, but otherwise doesn’t say anything. He’s nice enough, but not much of a conversationalist.
“Don’t laugh, dude, Addie looks at you in the same way,” Park tells him, pointing a finger at Trent.
“I look at Trent in what way?” Addie asks as she and Jensen returns to the table. She slips into her chair and so does Jensen, who flashes me a soft smile when our eyes meet.
“Like you think he’s the fuckin’ shit,” Park says, purely for shock value.
Addie laughs. Trent grins. Dad is scowling.
“You shouldn’t speak so rudely to your sister,” Diane says.
Diane defending Addie, that’s a laugh.
“Well, you shouldn’t treat Addie so rudely either,” Park returns with an arrogant smile. “If you’d had your way, we wouldn’t be at this crap restaurant celebrating your stepdaughter’s birthday in the first place. Am I right?”
Daaaamn. I can’t believe he went there, yet I can. But he usually saves those insults for when we’re at home versus in a restaurant.
Diane doesn’t say a thing. She just rises to her feet, throws her napkin onto her chair, and storms off.
“You should go apologize to Diane,” Dad tells Park the second she’s gone.
“What? Right now?” Park shakes his head. “Hell no.”
“Hell yes.” Dad points at him. “Go find her and apologize. That insult was uncalled for.”
“But so scarily accurate, don’t you think?” Park drawls.
We’re all quiet, even Trent. Especially Jensen. I swear she’s trembling once more, and I’d bet big money she never wants to come to a family outing with the Montgomerys ever again.
“Park.” Dad says his name as a warning, though he doesn’t disagree with Park’s statement.
Telling.
“Fine. I’ll go find her.” Park stands, shaking his longish dark hair back. We look a lot alike, my brother and me. But he’s shorter, with broader shoulders, and an almost-but-not-quite unkempt appearance to him. Like he just doesn’t give a damn.
Which describes Park’s personality perfectly.
We make small talk while Park and Diane are gone, and our server appears, asking if we want dessert. Addie and Trent both do, but my appetite is long gone. And when Jensen declines the cheesecake offer, I lean in close to tell her, “Order a slice to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you mentioned you might want an entire cheesecake, right?” I smile, trying to lighten the moment.
“I was joking.” She rolls her eyes, but at least she’s smiling. “And you’re the one who suggested I order an entire cheesecake.”