Say Forever(54)
"Thanks so much for meeting us last minute." Mrs. James beams at us as we sit down. Her long pale hair fans her face like a halo and her skin looks as radiant as ever. I've always been somewhat envious of her beauty. She makes it look so effortless, but I guess being married to a billionaire has is perks, like access to the best beauty products.
I woke up this morning with a monster zit on my nose, which I did my best to cover up with three different layers of concealer. Even though Blister Mountain now looks more like Blemish Molehill, I'm still feeling self-conscious about my complexion. I lay my napkin across my lap, trying to pretend my witchy wart doesn't exist and seriously resisting the urge to scratch it to oblivion. "Thank you for inviting me. I've missed Ty."
"Teeny!" Ty squeals again as he pelts me with a fry.
"No, no, Tyler," Mrs. James gently scolds him.
He flashes an adorable wicked grin and throws a fry at her.
"I can't believe he remembers me," I say.
"He was asking about you this morning. That's when I decided to call you." Mrs. James daintily picks the fry from behind her ear and wipes it on a napkin. Her soft curtain of hair, which is apparently impervious to projectile potatoes, falls back into place, taunting me with its smooth perfection.
I mentally kick myself in the ass for my petty jealousy. I could have nice hair, too, if I spent a small fortune at the salon each week. I narrowly miss another fry as it goes hurling across the table. My mom dodges it without even blinking and continues to peruse her menu. I guess she's been through this with Manny and Gio. I sure hope my baby doesn't act like this, but if he or she takes after my brothers or Andrés, I know I'll have my hands full. Ty tosses another fry before Mrs. James takes them away. He will make a nice quarterback one day, as long as he doesn't inherit his dad's derision to any activity that results in a mild sweat. I'm glad to see the color has returned to his cheeks. Last time I saw him, he didn't look well.
"How's he feeling?" I ask Mrs. James.
She shrugs while trying to pry the last remaining fry out of his little fist. "He had a chest cold, but he's over it."
I take a sip from my water glass, trying my best to pretend I'm not horrified as he lets out a wail and starts kicking his legs. He quiets down when Mrs. James gives him back the fries. I like Mrs. James, and I don't want to judge her, but rewarding Tyler for bad behavior isn't going to teach him a lesson. I steal a glance at my mom to gauge her reaction, but she's still engrossed in the menu choices. I'm assuming they have shrimp puffs here, because I think I see a bit of drool hanging off her bottom lip.
"That's good to hear," I say. "I was worried about him last week." And now I'm worried for another reason, I want to add. I'm afraid he'll turn out to be just as spoiled and selfish as Jackson if you don't discipline him.
After my mom sets down her menu and asks me to order her the shrimp cakes (probably the closest thing to shrimp puffs she could find), she excuses herself to go to the bathroom. Mrs. James watches her leave and then leans forward as if she's about to relay something top secret.
"You've always been so thoughtful." Her doe eyes light up as she nods toward my midsection. "You're going to make a great mother."
I gasp. "You know?"
"The whore told Jackson last night and he told us."
I assume by "whore" Mrs. James is referring to Karri. Though I'm not Karri's biggest fan, I'm not sure how I feel about Mrs. James talking about Ty's mother that way. I don't want Ty to grow up thinking that about his mother, even if it is true, but I guess it's not my place to reprimand Mrs. James for expressing her opinion.
"She didn't waste any time gossiping." I chew on my lower lip while I try to recall what I said to Karri during the fitting from hell. I don't remember telling her I was pregnant. Then I realize either Grace or Violet must have told her.
Her mouth tilts in a sideways smile. "I think she told him more out of spite. He still pines for you, you know?" she says with a wink.
I fan my face. My skin is so hot, I feel like I'm sitting under a heat lamp. I was so hoping we could enjoy the dinner without mentioning my ex-fiancé .
"I'm sorry." She pats my hand. "I'm making you uncomfortable."
"It's okay." I shrug, pretending it's no biggie I almost followed through with the worst mistake of my life by marrying that selfish, cheating bastard.
"Don't think I'm trying to push you two back together. I remember your Latin hottie. Can't say I blame you there." She rolls her eyes. "Especially if Jackson inherited his father's anatomy."
I pause with my glass at my lips and nearly spray my lemon water all over the table. I finally manage to swallow before I'm forced to cough out water lodged in my windpipe.