Page 89 of Can't Win 'Em All
He shrugged. “I’m an optimist. That’s my thing.”
“Does that make me a pessimist?”
“It makes you you. I happen to like you just how you are.”
That was enough to nudge a sigh out of me. “I actually think it’s a good idea. Let me bring it up at the meeting today.”
The relief washing over him was palpable. “Only do it if you’re totally comfortable.”
“I am,” I promised. “I think this is a great idea, because it’s definitely too soon to move in together.” I was firm on that. “I’ll bring it up and see what they say. Then we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH MY FAMILY—my father included—had turned into a snark fest. My father wasn’t getting the reactions he wanted, so he was going passive aggressive. That only served to make my mother go more passive aggressive. It had turned into a thing. Some days I found it amusing. Other days I just wanted to strangle them all.
“How are you feeling?” Zach asked as he pulled a chair out for me to sit, his eyes roaming me from head to toe. “I swear you’re twice as big as you were last time I saw you.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly. “I appreciate your concern for my well-being.” Okay, apparently, I could go passive aggressive with the best of them too.
“Sorry.” Zach looked chagrined. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“It’s fine.” I waved him off. “I’m a whale. It’s not as if I don’t see it.”
“You should be careful,” my father volunteered out of nowhere. “At your age, you won’t bounce right back after pregnancy. Claire did but she’s ten years younger than you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not quite the dig you think it is,” I snapped. “It reflects poorly on you, not me.”
Dad was blasé. “I’m just saying, at your age?—”
Mom cut him off by slapping her hand on the table. “Can you not poke her, Ryder? She’s creating human life. She doesn’t need your crap on top of that.”
Dad snorted. “Creating human life. Give me a break. Women were designed for this stuff. It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes, I can’t wait until you get a kidney stone and have to pass it through your penis,” Pearl said dryly. “Talk to us about being designed for it then.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “Should we get on to business? I have something I would like to present to you.”
I was instantly suspicious. “You’re like tenth down the list of shareholders,” I reminded him. “Why would you possibly think we’re going to okay anything you suggest?”
“Because I have the best interests of this casino fueling me and you guys are powered by revenge.”
He was definitely up to something. To irritate him—and give myself a little thrill—I took control before he could. “I have something I want to check on with you guys too.”
“You do?” Surprise was evident on Mom’s features as she turned her attention to me. “You’re not sick, are you? I had high blood pressure when I was pregnant with Zach. If you’re feeling ill, we can take you to the doctor.”
“It’s not that,” I assured her. “I was just at an appointment yesterday, and my blood pressure is fine. This is about Rex.”
Mom clapped her hands, catching me off guard. “You’re getting married. I knew it!” She sent Pearl a haughty look. “It’s a short timetable, but we can manage it,” she assured me. “What were you thinking? Something mid-level here at the casino?”
I frowned. “Um … we’re not getting married. We’ve only been dating for two weeks.”
“That’s not really true, though,” Zach hedged. “I know you guys have only been ‘officially’ dating for two weeks, but what you were doing before was like dating.”
“How?” I challenged.
“Um … you were getting to know one another, making plans for the future, and going on daily ice cream dates. How is that not dating?”
“We weren’t going on daily ice cream dates.” That was ridiculous.
