Page 86 of Single Malt Drama
Zach, Joe’s oldest son, stood in the corner talking to a girl I didn’t recognize. Before I could puzzle out who she was, the teen kissed her.
Holy shit. Zach has a girlfriend.I nudged Dante’s side. “Look at that.”
“They grow up so fast.” He pretended to wipe tears from his eyes.
Asshole.
Joe’s younger two, Chloe and Ryan, darted past us with cupcakes in each hand. They went straight to my mother, who held Gabe’s daughter in her arms.
The thought of having a houseful of rug rats with Nico made my throat tighten. She could be pregnant right now.
“Your biological clock ticking?” Dante gave me side-eye.
“Yeah, it is.” I walked away.
Leo stood with his friend, Dahlia. He gave me a curt nod and whispered something to her.
How can he stand it? How can he pretend he isn’t in love with her?How can he act perfectly normal surrounded by kids knowing he has one out there somewhere? I shook my head and looked away. Stupid SOB. It’s all going to come back and bite him in the ass one day.
Enzo walked outside with Shanna tucked close to his side.
Everyone yelled, “Surprise!”
My brother startled too dramatically and laughed too loud.
He knew. He knew about the party.I laughed. Some things never change in this family.
Enzo kissed Shanna like it was his job. I’m talking backward dip, tongue, the whole nine-yards.
Dante nudged me and motioned to our brother, the world’s worst actor. I winked and folded my arms.
Gabe and Leo nodded their agreement.
Dante shouted, “He’s faking it.”
The guests groaned, and the kids booed.
Enzo took a bow. “All right. All right. I knew about the party, but I have a surprise or two of my own.”
Poor Shanna looked like she wanted to run inside and curl into a ball. At least she did until Enzo dropped to one knee.
“Holy shit. Another one bites the dust.” Dante loosened his collar.
I should propose to Nico. Do it right this time. Make a big to-do. Straining to hear what Enzo had to say, I whispered, “Hush.”
Enzo said something about the cat, and I frowned. Not getting any pointers from him.
My mother moved to my side. “I need to speak to you.”
Is she freaking serious? Now? Without taking my eyes off the couple, I whispered, “Later.”
“Now.” She tugged my arm, but she would have had better luck moving a boulder.
I leaned close and whispered into her ear, “Your son is proposing to his future bride. The least you can do is pretend to care.”
Shanna had her hands pressed to her mouth and tears running down her cheeks.
My mother pinched the back of my arm—a move she’d perfected when we were kids to keep us in line. It hurt like hell, but I refused to react. Not that long ago, I’d thought it was funny that my brothers and I could make her so mad she’d resort of a bit of violence. Now, it just pissed me off.