I don’t think I can hear anything more without wanting to flip the table over and go hunt down her ex. “Tonight, you take my phone,” I say, and she shakes her head.
“I’m not taking your phone,” she huffs. “I’m just pointing out how different our lives are.”
“What if you need to call 911?” I ask, and then I play dirty. “What if something happens to Dylan, and you can’t call for help?” I take my own glass of water, and I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter in my hand. I’m so angry about what she just told me. I take a sip of the ice-cold water, but it’s hard to swallow. “And fuck the equipment. We got him a spare bag.”
“But you shouldn’t have to pay for that,” she says.
“Neither should you,” I say. She’s about to argue with me when the door opens, and Dylan comes skipping back into the room.
“Mom, there is a guy, and he tosses the pizza into the sky.” He mimics tossing a pizza in the air with his arms. “Then he catches it.”
“Really?” she says, and he climbs into the chair next to me.
“And Lara let me make my own pizza,” he says. “I did a meat lover’s because I need some meat on these bones.” He slaps his stomach, and we both laugh. I look over at her and see her eyes glistening with tears, but for once, I don’t think they’re sad tears.
Chapter Sixteen
Caroline
My head is spinning for a couple of reasons. I’m sure the wine is playing a part in it, but his words are making it spin more. Dylan is going on and on about something with Justin, and the only thing I can hear in my head is I want to kiss you. It doesn’t help that his smell is all around me because of his ginormous sweater. I had to roll the sleeves just to get them over my hands.
I pick up my wine by accident and take a sip, putting it down and then looking over at Justin who just smirks. “If you really want to sleep over, sweetheart …”
“It was an accident,” I say and then pick up the glass of water and finish the whole thing. “I need more water.”
“Do you now?” He smiles, and Lara comes in with a tray and places it in the middle of the table.
“This are just little samples,” she says. I look at the tray of what she calls “little samples,” and it’s enough food to last a week. “Little meatballs, garlic bread, calamari, bruschetta, sausage and rapini and arugula salad.” She smiles and puts down a stack of white plates in front of me.
“I want meatballs,” Dylan says. “And the sausage.” He looks at Justin and scrunches his nose. “No green stuff.”
Lara throws her head back and laughs. “Is there anything specific you want to eat for the main?”
“The main?” I ask, and then look at Justin, leaning in. “What does she mean by that?”
“I think a couple of pizzas and maybe a penne vodka and a spaghetti would be good,” he tells her, and she smiles and nods at us.
“Did you just order more food?” I ask Justin, who is already filling a plate for Dylan and then putting a bit of everything on one for me.
He puts the plate down in front of me and the smell of garlic and tomatoes hits my nose right away, making my mouth water. “Eat, sweetheart,” he says softly, and my stomach feels like it just did a wave. No one has ever called me that.
I look over at Dylan who has just destroyed the meatball and is asking Justin for another one. His mouth is covered in sauce. “So how many sisters did you say you had again?” I ask him as I take my first bite of the meatball, and it has to be the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.
“Three,” he says, chewing. “Allison is the oldest girl.” He smiles. “Then the twins, Zara and Zoe.” His eyes light up when he talks about his family.
“So you’re the baby?” I ask him again, this time eating a piece of the calamari. It melts in my mouth.
“Matthew is the oldest,” he says, looking at Dylan. “The guy who called me when I was driving.” Dylan couldn’t care less what he is saying as he eats his food.
“How much older?” I ask him.
“Eighteen years,” he says, and my eyes open wide. “Were you an oops?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Matthew and Allison are from my mom’s first marriage.”
“So your half brother and sister?” I say, and he shakes his head.
“Not to us,” he says. “My dad is their dad; doesn’t matter what blood they have.” I put my hand on his arm. “Their father cheated on my mother, and she caught him. I’ve never met the man, but I’ve been told he’s a tool.”
“Do they still keep in touch with him?” My hand remains on his arm.
“Nope. He stopped coming around when my dad came into the picture. He tried to get my mother back, but my father, well, let’s just say he squashed that idea right away,” he says, and his face lights up again. “It took one look from my dad, and he was a goner. I mean that, and my mother told him to take a hike, which made Dad want her even more.”
“Love at first sight.” I smile now and take my hand off his arm and eat another meatball. “Are your siblings married?”
“Yeah, all of them. Matthew is married to Karrie, and they have four kids.” My eyes go big. “He’s a caveman. If he could carry her around over his shoulder and pound his chest while screaming she’s mine, he probably would.” I laugh. “Allison is married to Max, and they have two kids. He is also Matthew’s ex-enemy.”
“Holy crap,” I say, mesmerized by the family.
“Oh, yeah, not only did they get married”—he starts to laugh—“but they eloped, and Matthew found out watching SportsCenter.” I put my hand to my mouth.
“One more meatball,” Dylan says, and Justin looks at me for approval.
“You sure? There is pizza and pasta coming,” I say, and he nods his head.
“So tell me more,” I ask, wanting to hear more.
“Zara was the first twin to get married to Evan Richards,” he says, then waits for my reaction after he says his name, and when I just shrug, he looks at Dylan. “Evan Richards.”
“He’s the best. He won a Stanley Cup,” he says, wiping his mouth. “Not as good as Justin, though.”
“Wait,” Justin says. He takes out his phone, and suddenly, he’s FaceTiming someone, and the man who fills the screen is hot. “Yo,” Justin says, and the man speaks up.
“Hey,” he says, and then I hear a woman’s voice yelling in the background.
“Why the hell is Justin calling you?” She now stands next to the guy, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier woman in my life.
“He likes me better than you,” the man says.
“Okay, listen,” Justin says. “I want you to hear what I just heard.”
The woman snatches the phone. “Oh my God, is this gossip?” she says with a squeal. “I love gossip. What is it about? Is it about Allison? Did you notice her weight gain, too? You think she’s pregnant?”