I'm trying not to dwell on the look I saw Jack give Lauren. It's the same look every guy gives her when they first meet her. The holy shit you're so fucking hot AND a doctor look. I can only imagine the role-playing fantasies. 

I stride over to the cabinet where my mother keeps the glassware and purposely avoid the crystal glasses they got on their honeymoon in Germany as if I would ever suddenly reach for the special glasses that have been off-limits my entire life. As I snag a bulbous glass from the back, I ask Jack, "So, first introductions are done. Were they what you thought?" He hesitates as he swipes the glass from my hand and then says, "Terrifying? Yeah, you did a good job preparing me for that."

"My sister is especially firey today. Should make for good entertainment." I shut the cabinet and then spin around, "I want to say she'll tone down when Marcus gets here, but she actually just gets worse. I'm pretty sure she keeps his balls in her Prada bag." He follows me over to the wine pantry and when I tug the door open, he scans the dozens of bottles tucked neatly inside.

"How does my mom not have this in her house?" He asks in awe. My hand glides over the tops of the bottles and my eyes find an expensive-looking one near the bottom. 

"She said no to certain glasses but not to certain bottles." I yank the Bordeaux from the slot and then drop the bottle in Jack's hand. He glances at the label and then says, "This looks expensive."

"It's French and probably from the wrong bank which is why it's sitting near the bottom."

"I don't know what that means but I'm sure whichever bank is fine for my limited palette." He drops the bottle on the counter and I hand him the fancy eclectic opener. He is pulling the cork out when Lauren slides the glass door open. She holds up her empty wineglass and then says, "Thought I could use a refill." Her eyes land in the bottle now in my hands and then scoffs. 

"You would grab the nastiest wine." 

"Please don't try and impress us with your left bank bullshit Lo. Jack doesn't care and neither do I," I tell her with an eye roll and then snatch the bottle from Jack's grip. I overpour my glass and then give Jack and Lauren an appropriate amount. I notice she's still willing to drink the shit wine she just complained about. 

"I'm just wondering why you pulled that bottle? You should know good wine at your age." She lifts the glass to her perfect cupid's bow lips and gives the wine a sniff. 

"Just drink it," I mutter and then take a long swig of mine. I don't even let it sit in my mouth, I just tilt my head back and drain it. 

"I had wondered when working in a bar was going to turn you into a lush," Lauren says with a smirk before taking a dainty sip. 

"Funnily enough, I don't drink at work. Just when I am around family." 

"Whatever helps you deal with your failures," Lauren snides back and Jack just sits and watches us volley snideness to each other. She raises her glass as if to toast me and then glides her dark eyes over to Jack. I watch her drink him in and wonder how Marcus would feel about her current stare. 

"So blue eyes, what do you do for work?" Lauren asks sweetly and Jack drops his glass on the counter. 

"I work at a bar. Not a drunk though," he adds a smirk and then glances at me. "It's where I met Lucy. We work together." I am glad he didn't say "worked" so I didn't have to explain myself so early on in the day. 

"Is that your long-term goal? Work in a dive bar?" Lauren asks, her wide eyes still staring as she takes another sip of the sub-par wine. 

"No, I am graduating from ASU in a couple months with a master's in architecture. Already have a job lined up at a firm in Phoenix." I also notice Jack left the nepotism out, but Lauren gives me a sly smile before replying, "Oh really?" My mother then interprets the line of questioning by sliding the glass door open. 

"Are we all congregating in here now? Is something wrong with the patio?" She asks in annoyance, having been left outside. 

"No, just learning all about Lucy's new friend here," Lauren says, and then my mom sets her wine glass down on the counter. She glances at the bottle on the counter and then rolls her eyes. 

"Seriously Lucy? You invite company here and then serve him right bank Bordeaux? She strides over to the wine cabinet and yanks a bottle out of a slot near the top. "That wine was given to us by ignorant friends of your fathers."

"Then why keep it?" I ask as she slides the opener on top of the bottle. 

"For cooking, obviously." She yanks the cork out and dumps the remaining wine Jack had in his glass in the sink. "Here Jake, this is much better."

"Jack," I correct and she just looks at me like, yes that is what I said. 

"I'm not too familiar with French wine," Jack admits. "Wine isn't something I tend to order."

"What's your go-to? Lauren asks curiously and Jack shrugs, "I like a good beer."

"Jack is a bartender too, mom. That's where these two met," Lauren announces and I realize I am going to have to be the one to tell her he is also in school. 

"While going to school. We both also go to ASU."

"Ah, so you also took a few gap years before attending college then?" My mother asks him and he quickly shakes his head. 

"No, I am actually getting my masters. I did take one gap year to backpack around Central and South America though." 

"Oh?" My mom says with her lip slightly raised in disgust. She's never been to anywhere where there's not a Ritz and expensive wine. "Needed to get that hostile living out of your system?"

Jack laughs, "No, I went to study sustainable architecture down there. I wanted to learn about their ecosystems and how they reuse their resources" My mom's lips are now in a tiny "O" and he adds, "I had a grant to study down there. I plan to spend some time in Europe too. Norway is also doing amazing things."

"Is this your passion? Sustainability?" Lauren asks like she's super interested in every word that comes out of Jack's mouth. 

"Yeah, it's what my focus is on. I have a client that I am meeting with in a couple of weeks in San Francisco that's looking to build a sustainable home carved into a hillside," Jack says and his eyes are bright as he talks about this opportunity. I've heard him spew random architecture facts every now and again, but this is the first time I have seen him this excited about something specific. 

"So no long-term plans in Phoenix then?" Lauren asks but my mother cuts him off before he can answer. 

"Why are we all standing around in the kitchen when I have perfectly comfortable seats on the patio?" She takes a sip of her wine and then waves her dainty hand around, implying for us to follow. Jack looks at me and asks, "Bathroom?" 

"Around the corner, down the hall on the left."

"The soaps in the bowl are decorative," My mother says while straddling the threshold of the sliding glass door. "Please use the Jo Malone pump please." He gives her a nod in understanding and then looks back at me. His eyes are shining like he knows this is all ridiculous and then I watch as he disappears around the corner. 

Lauren grabs her glass of wine and gestures for me to take the lead. I snatch my glass off the counter, realizing my mom dumped Jack's wine and not mine and then tuck the bottle into the crook of my arm. Lauren frowns at me but I just continue outside. 

"Are you going to fill us in on who this Josh is?" My mother asks as she takes a seat at the patio table. 

"Jack, mom. His name is Jack," I snap and she takes another sip of wine. "He's my...Jack is my..."

"There is no way he is your boyfriend. He is too good-looking," Lauren says and my body burns at her comment. I don't appreciate her checking Jack out.  

"Well he is my boyfriend so," I tell her and Lauren laughs. 

"Are you doing that thing in the movies where you have some leverage on a co-worker and force him into meeting your family so you don't look like such a mess?" Lauren asks, glee just radiating off her. 

"No, I'm not forcing him to be here. He wanted to meet you all."

"Lucy, honey. How do you already have a boyfriend? Is that really appropriate seeing your engagement ended weeks ago?" Mom asks and once again, a hint of disgust covers her face. 

"I've known Jack for years and when I came home single, he told me how he felt and-"

"I still think you have some sort of leverage here," Lauren says and I glare at her. 

"Why is it so hard to believe that Jack is in love with me? He is my boyfriend." 

"There is nothing about you guys on Facebook or Instagram. This must be pretty new," my evil sister says with a wink. Like she really believes this is all a ruse. 

"Jack is on my Instagram because we've been friends for years."

"No change in status on Facebook though? I would have seen if someone announced they were in a relationship with you. I would have commented and told them to run."

"I wanted to tell you in person before I went and announced it all over social media," I snap to her but my mother raises a hand, forcing Lauren to ceasefire. 

"Lucy, l still don't know if it's wise for you to be dating anyone so soon. What if Blake asks for you back? You don't want to break poor Jake's heart now do you?" 

"Jack's heart will be fine," Lauren mutters and I take a deep calming breath. 

"I don't want Blake back. Ever."

"Are you sure it wasn't just a misunderstanding? Lots of men are close with their secretaries. You may have blown things out of proportion," Mom says and I close my eyes for a moment and then pop them back open to say, "Blake is a cheating, lying, arrogant asshole. I want nothing to do with him." I then hear Jack's voice behind me as he says, "Ah, now I may not know much about wine, but this is a topic I am well versed in." He slides out a chair next to me and Lauren and my mom watch as he drops into it. 

"Blake really is the worst. Lucy is much better off without him." 

"If Lucifer is paying you to be here, blink twice," Lauren says with her hand covering one side of her mouth. Jack tosses his head back and lets out a light laugh, like Lauren is just so silly. 

"Lauren, he is my boyfriend. I am not lying."

"Really? Jack is this true?" Lauren asks him, one perfectly waxed eyebrow raised in doubt on her forehead. 

"It's true. I am her boyfriend and I'm hoping to be her husband one day," he says with a grin and one hand relaxed on his wine glass. I snap my gaze to him and my mouth falls open. 

"Okay, that right there proves it. This is all a ruse." Lauren says, but I don't take my eyes off Jack.