Hard Bastard(148)

Cindy turned to me. “Cole was just telling us about his time in Thailand.”

“He was training with a master fighter out in the jungle,” Dad said a little too reverently.

“I’m sure it was hard,” I replied, uninterested.

“I’ve had harder,” he said, grinning at me.

I rolled my eyes at him and Dad gave me a look.

“Anyway,” Cindy said, “let’s go into the dining room.”

We filed in and took our seats at the table. In the kitchen, I heard some staff bustling around, getting the meal ready. I felt a little weird about having staff suddenly, but apparently Cindy had insisted on it. Dad and I had gotten along just fine without having servants, but I wasn’t about to say anything.

“Looks great,” Dad said as the food was served.

“My first real meal in a long time,” Cole said.

“Really? What did you eat out there, bugs?” I asked him.

“Sometimes, sure. Mostly vegetables, though.”

“No talking about eating bugs at the table,” Cindy said. “Plus, you didn’t really eat bugs. Did you?”

Cole grinned and just began to dig into his food without answering. Cindy sighed, taking small bites of her salad. Dad gave me another look, and I knew exactly what he was thinking. It was probably pretty obvious that I was annoyed with Cole, but how could I explain it to him? Better to let him wonder.

“So, Alexa,” Cindy said, “how’s school?”

“It’s good,” I answered. “Can’t complain.”

“Berkeley, right?”

“Yep.”

“Smart girl,” Cole said. “Must be nice. Makes your father here proud, I bet.”

“Very proud,” Dad said.

“Where did you go to school?” I asked Cole, knowing the answer.

“Nowhere,” Cindy muttered.

“Nowhere is right,” he said loudly, ignoring her. “I skipped the bullshit and went right into training.”

“Must be rough. Being an uneducated person, I mean,” I said acidly. I knew I was being a jerk, but I was just too annoyed with him to care.

Dad and Cindy both stared at me.

“Oh, it’s not so bad,” Cole said simply, as if I hadn’t just insulted him. “It’s easier since I’m married, you know?”

Dad looked at him. “I didn’t know you were married.”

I cringed. Dad was taking the bait. I gave Cole a look but he ignored me.

“Oh yeah, Frank, I sure am. Married to fighting, I mean. She’s a crazy mistress, but I love her.”

He was looking at me the whole time he was speaking, and I wanted to throw my fork right in his eye.

“Ah, that’s good,” Dad said. “It’s good to love what you do.”

“Even something so violent and dangerous,” Cindy said.

“Maybe dangerous, and definitely violent, but people do crazy things all the time.” Cole looked at me. “Right, Alex?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I spat back. “I’m too busy, you know, being a normal person.”

Not marrying a stranger and then traipsing off into the jungle, I wanted to add, but I didn’t.

Dad looked between the two of us. “I don’t think fighting is crazy or abnormal,” he said, oblivious.

“I do,” Cindy said.

Cole glared at her, and I couldn’t help but wonder what her deal was. Did she seriously care so much about what Cole did that she was going to make passive snipes about it at lunch?

But no, I didn’t care about that. I didn’t feel bad for Cole. I didn’t care if his smiling blue eyes were piercing into me, making me want to cross my legs. I didn’t care if I kept imagining the way his fingers had made my back arch all that time ago.

I didn’t care that he was the last guy I had kissed. Or that he was my stepbrother.

I just wanted a damn divorce.

We started eating then and the conversation drifted toward more normal topics, like Dad and Cindy’s jobs. Apparently, things weren’t all they were cracked up to be in the company, and life was pretty stressful. But they seemed to genuinely enjoy each other’s company, or at least for as long as lunch lasted.

“So, Alexa,” Cole said suddenly during a lull. “Any men in your life?”

“Cole,” Cindy said.

“What? I just want to inquire after my new stepsister’s virtue.”

“My virtue is none if your business,” I said.

“Can we stop saying ‘virtue’?” Dad asked sheepishly.

“Don’t be so uptight, sis,” Cole said, learning forward. “I just want to get to know you better.”

“That’s a wonderful idea!” Cindy said suddenly. “You two should get to know each other better.”