Lucy
Jack follows behind me into the kitchen and I don't stop until I reach the wine pantry. I'm looking for another Bordeaux when I hear my father's deep throaty laugh coming from down the hallway. I pop my head out of the closet and catch Marcus and my dad cross into the kitchen. They are both wearing sleek golf attire, black pants paired with striped Callaway polos and they are pink from the sun.
"Lucy!" Marcus says when he spots me and my dad's gaze falls on Jack. I leave the wine in the pantry and stride over to my brother-in-law. I press into him for a quick hug and then I quickly embrace my dad. My dad is taller than Jack at 6'4, but he's broad and solid like his dad.
"Hey, how was golfing I ask," at the same time Jack extends his hand toward my dad.
"I'm Jack, Mr. Halloway. It's nice to meet you," Jack says and my dad grips his hand. I see Lauren saunter into the kitchen and as she passes Jack to get to Marcus, she says, "Jack is Lucy's future husband."
"Yeah, that's what the last guy thought," my dad mumbles and it only takes seconds for my face to be covered in crimson.
"Oh?" Marcus says and then turns to face Jack, "It's nice to meet you then, Jack." Marcus is the best thing about Lauren. He's pleasant, personable, and remembers people's names. He's a handsome man with dark hair, a light complexion and dark eyes. His parents are from Korea and he speaks Korean but doesn't have an accent. Lauren brags that Marcus is actually fluent in 3 other languages but I've only ever heard him speak Korean and English because unlike my sister, he's not a show-off. I have no idea what he sees in Lauren other than her perfect figure and Ph.D. My mother kisses my dad on the cheek and then says, "Lucy was just about to tell us what a you too star is."
"A you too star?" My dad asks in confusion. Marcus lets out a laugh and then says, "I think she meant YouTube. Yeah, Lucy, your videos are great!" I can't hide the flicker of confusion my face conveys because I had no idea Marcus knew about my videos. I blocked Lauren from viewing certain posts just so she couldn't write nasty comments on my videos.
"They are, aren't they," Jack chimes in and my mom and dad look lost.
"Her what videos? Are these on the internet?" My mom asks before looking horrified. "Are you putting videos of yourself on the internet?"
"Mom, they are for my channel. I told you I started a baking channel on YouTube."
"For your cookies?" My dad asks and he slides a bottle of scotch out from the cabinet over the fridge.
"Yes. My cookie channel. I told you I was making money baking cookies remember. It's why I am getting a business degree."
My mom shakes her head, "You said you were going to open a bakery. Not get paid from strangers on the internet."
"Mom, I'm getting paid from YouTube. Not from strangers on the internet."
"It's only a matter of time until Lucy is on OnlyFans though," Lauren mumbles and Marcus swats her shoulder. "What, I am kidding. Her ugly dance feet would not bring in enough to pay the bills."
"Scotch?" My dad offers and Jack and Marcus eagerly accept.
"Okay, so, you're still doing the cookie thing?" My mother asks as she shakes her head. Trying to process my words with all the other noise around her.
"Honey, let's not start badgering Lucy right away," my dad says as he pours the amber liquid into low crystal tumblers. "Do you just have this celery here?" My mom then abandons her line of questioning and strides off toward the fridge to feed my father. Jack happily sips his scotch and I can see he's more at ease now that the men are here. I slide my hand into the crook of his arm and hold onto him like he's an anchor as my mom covers the counter with dips and cheeses. He has no idea how grateful I am that he is here, helping deflect Lauren's cheap shots.
"So Jack," my father bellows. "How did you meet our Lucy?" Jack finishes his swig of scotch and then answers, "We work together. At Mag's."
"I thought they only hired female bartenders?" My dad asks and then adds, "Or are you in the kitchen?"
"Nope, I am the only male bartender."
"I bet that's great," Marcus says with a light laugh and Jack smiles at him.
"Yeah, has its perks."
"We're flying out of Phoenix on Sunday. Maybe we should pop by for a drink before we head out," Marcus suggests to Lauren but she just shakes her head.
"We don't have wine from the left bank," I tell Marcus with a dramatic frown. "Lauren would have to drink peasant's mead."
"Lauren just got toasted off Smirnoff and Mio last weekend. I'm sure house wine would be fine," Marcus confesses and Jack quickly asks, "Mio?"
"Yeah, you know the little flavor things. You squirt the flavor into water, or in Lo's case, vodka."
"It's sugar-free," Lauren snaps at Marcus as if he just revealed a huge secret.
"Who is the lush now?" I say to Lauren with a smile and she quickly snaps her gaze back to Dad.
"Jack is going to school to be an architect." My dad pulls his lips into an impressed grin and they start talking about sustainable architecture again. I use this opportunity to use the bathroom, knowing Jack is not being left to the wolves.
After I pee and wash my hands with the correct soap, I press my face into one of my mother's Turkish linen towels. I take a deep breath and wonder if I can somehow dodge Lauren's quips while telling my mother the truth. I also need Jack or Marcus to distract Lauren long enough so I can ask my parents for a loan. My mom has already brought up Blake, New York and Julliard and we were just about to linger on YouTube. I almost have all the hard stuff out of the way. I know she has more to say about Blake, but I am hoping she'll drop it with Jack here.
As I round the corner to go join the conversation that's happening in the kitchen, Lauren spots me and asks, "Are you still friends with Stella?" I slow my stride as I reply, "Um, yes. Why?"
"I thought she was giving you some fashion sense, but then you show up in the Target prep school special and I think maybe not." She waves a finger around and I smooth down my ugly corduroy skirt as I say, "My wardrobe is limited at the moment and this skirt is J.Crew."
"Did Blake just send all your stuff to Goodwill instead of to your new address? Which is where by the way?"
"Yes, Lucy where are you now? I know you said Blake was going to send your stuff here, but your father and I are hardly home. You should really just have him send everything straight to your new address," my mom says and she pops a carrot into her mouth before leaning on her arm with her palm resting on the counter.
"You can send it all to my house if you want?" Jack offers and I am still trying to avoid my living situation.
"Where are you at, Jack?" My dad asks as he pours himself another drink.
"I have a house in Phoenix. Kinda near the airport."
"Oh wow, you own your own home," my mother says and even though she didn't mean it condescendingly, it came across that way.
"Do you have roommates?" Lauren asks before bringing her glass up to her lips.
"Just one at the moment," Jack answers honestly and I catch his eye before he takes a sip.
"So you plan on staying in Phoenix after you graduate?" Marcus asks and Jack nods his head.
"That's the plan. I'll have to travel for work sometimes but I imagine Phoenix will be my home base. My whole family is here."
"Ever been to New York?" Lauren asks and I had wondered when New York would come back up.
"I haven't."
"You've never been to New York?" My mom gasps and I smile at her dramatics.
"I've been to London several times. I kinda think New York is the knockoff," Jack jokes but my mom's eyes nearly bulge out of her head.
"Lucy will have to take you then. Show you where she is from. Where she grew up," My mother states after taking another long swig of wine.
"You can come stay with us," Marcus offers and Lauren glares at him. "Do a long weekend."
"I feel like one of them wouldn't survive being in the same space for more than a few hours," My dad jokes as he points between Lauren and me. We're saved by the doorbell and my mom spins around to glare at the clock.
"They are early! I said six!" My dad waves a calming hand at her and they both take off toward the front door. I use this as an opportunity to pull Jack back to the wine cabinet and when we are inside the small space, I whisper, "I need you to somehow drag Lauren away from my parents at some point. I cannot ask for money in front of her and I don't see her leaving me alone willingly."
"What do you want me to do? Won't that look awkward if I am like, oh hey Lauren, just you alone come do something with me?"
I shake my head, "I don't know, but if an opportunity organically comes up take it. I'll try and get my dad alone because he's already two scotches in. My mom might not leave us alone either." I snatch a bottle off the rack, but before I leave the closet Jack takes his head in my hands and plants a nice long kiss on my lips. I breathe him in and my shoulders finally relax.
"You've been on the defense since we got here. Thought you could use reinforcements." I smile at him and then give him another quick kiss on the lips. Lauren finds us lip-locked in the closet and scoffs loudly.
"That's why mom didn't trust you alone in your room," she says as she swipes the bottle from my hands. She stalks off and I look to Jack.
"Told you.'
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top