I laugh. “Okay, buster. No more money for you after sex, regardless of performance.”
“Not even a little?”
“Nope.”
“Even after you take advantage of me?”
“Most definitely not,” I say with mock severity.
He grins. “Deal.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Pascal
For the rest of the week, I debate long and hard about skipping this Saturday’s dinner. Court invites me to spend the day with his brother and friends at his place, and it’s really, really tempting. I still have no idea what I’m going to say to Dad. We haven’t spoken since Monday, and my disappointment and anger haven’t fully dissipated.
But Curie and Joe are back from their honeymoon, and they’re going to come. No matter how upset I am with my dad, I can’t let what happened at the firm taint my relationship with the rest of the family. And I also need to figure out how I’m going to deal with Dad. Avoiding him won’t solve anything.
On Friday, when Court realizes my plan while we’re having pizza and watching an old episode of Buffy, he asks, “Do you want me to come with you?”
Part of me wants him to. I’ve brought my exes to dinner before many times, but Dad’s attitude on Monday makes me hesitate. “No, it’s okay.”
Court opens his mouth, then closes it with a frown.
I feel bad about turning him down, because he’s just trying to help. So I promise to come by after dinner.
As I park my car and walk into my family’s home, I can’t decide if I made the right decision. Yes, Dad was weird about me and Court on Monday, but why should Court have to pay a price for that? If Dad hadn’t said what he said, I would’ve definitely brought him. Not just for support, but why shouldn’t he come with me when my exes did? He’s worth a hundred Toms.
Argh.
Curie and Joe are already in the living room, showing their tablet screen to Mom. Curie jumps up when she sees me. “Pascal!”
“Curie! You look amazing!” And she does. The light tan highlights her aquamarine eyes more, and she’s positively glowing.
We hug. Joe and I exchange a hug also. He’s sunbaked as well, and I swear he’s smiling even more now than before. Marriage must be good for both of them.
I sit on Mom’s left, and Curie takes the right, Joe parking himself beside her. It’s a little tight, but we all fit on the couch. I put an arm around Mom’s shoulders and squeeze.
“How you’ve been?” Mom says.
What exactly is she asking? About my job hunting or just my general well-being? I can’t tell, so I just tilt my flat palm to left and right with a small shrug. “So what are you looking at?” I ask, turning the topic away from me.
Mom smiles. “Curie and Joe were just showing me some photos from their honeymoon. Look. They’re incredible.” And then she adds in a stage whisper, “They’re so in love.”
Joe beams.
Mom shifts the screen closer and shows me the pictures. Curie and Joe are both very photogenic. One in particular catches my attention. Curie and Joe are sitting side by side on a low wooden platform over the pristine sea of the Maldives, their legs dangling off the edge. The tips of Joe’s toes brush the water, and a gray-brown bungalow squats behind them on pylons. It looks like heaven—and just the most perfect place for a couple in love.
“Is this where you stayed?” I ask, tilting the screen so they can see it.
“Yeah. You should go,” Curie says. “It’s amazing. The floor has a huge glass panel in it, and you can see the fish and coral and everything. It’s pricey, but worth every penny.”
“Yup,” Joe says. “But don’t freak out like her if you see a shark swimming below.”
Given how strong an impression Jaws left on my sister, I can just imagine her reaction to a destination rife with man-eating marine creatures.
“It was huge!” Curie spreads her arms as far as she can. “Haven’t you seen the movies? Sharks can break through glass.”