Coffee Cup Confessions - Trish Williford Page 0,44
the beer into the living room, ready to face my sister and Noah. Mandy is sitting on Noah’s lap, glaring at Jake when I walk in the room. I hand Dad, Drew, and Jake their bottles and sit next to Jake. He puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side.
“Hi, Misha.” Noah smiles.
“Hey.” I try to smile back, but my facial muscles aren’t cooperating.
“Oh, I see her vacation has melted her heart enough to make her go from ice princess to just plain, heartless bitch. How nice of her to join us,” Mandy growls.
“Mandy,” Noah chides her.
Jake’s grip tightens on me, but I take the opportunity to introduce him to her. “Jake, this is my sister, Mandy. As you can see, she is everything I told you she was.”
“And probably more.” Drew chuckles before taking a pull of his beer.
“Enough.” Dad raises his voice. “Mandy, don’t talk to Misha if you’re going to have an attitude tonight. Next remark, and you can go home.”
Mandy’s cheeks turn red at Dad’s words, but the rest of us keep quiet and watch the game.
Drew presses his ear up to the door of Dad’s den. “What do you think they’re talking about in there?”
I smack his arm. “Stop it. They’ll hear you!” I whisper.
Drew backs away from the door and takes a seat on the barstool at the island in the kitchen. “They’ve been in there a really long time. Maybe your dad is giving him the talk.”
“And what talk would that be?”
“You know, the don’t knock up my daughter before you put a ring on it talk. Dads hate for their daughters to look like hos.”
“I never got that talk,” Noah chimes in.
“For which daughter?” Bentley asks dryly.
“Neither.” Noah rolls his eyes.
“Enough,” Mom scolds them. She sets freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on the island and then puts her arm around me. “I think he is wonderful. You really have found yourself a good man, Misha. I’m proud of your choice.”
“Yeah, he’s okay,” I joke.
“Just okay? Misha, he’s a looker.” She fans herself.
Part of a cookie falls out of Drew’s mouth as he laughs hysterically.
Mom crosses her arms. “And what’s so funny? I know you’re thinking the same thing.”
“And I’m out of here,” Noah says, taking a cookie and leaving.
“Me too.” Bentley follows.
Drew picks up the cookie and pops it back in his mouth. “I am actually. He’s sexier than hell. What I would give for one night. Anyway, it was just unexpected to hear you say that.”
I look between the two of them. “You do realize I am sitting here, right?”
“What are you guys talking about?” Jake asks from behind us.
I jump at his voice, not expecting him to walk in on the conversation.
Mom quickly comes to the rescue. “The anniversary party the kids are throwing for Greg and me in a few weeks. Will you be joining Misha, Jake?”
He puts his arm around my shoulders. “I will be. I hope that is all right.”
Mom claps her hands together. “Of course it is. It will be lovely for you to meet some of the extended family.”
Bentley, Mandy, and I had to tell my parents about the wedding anniversary party that we had planned for them. Dad had been about to book a cruise through Drew for the same weekend, and when we told him he couldn’t go, we had to give him a reason.
“Are you ready to go?” I ask Jake.
“Ready if you are.” He hugs my mother and kisses her cheek. “Thank you so much for the delicious dinner, Mrs. Gallagher. I had a great time, meeting the family.”
Her cheeks turn light red. Again. “The pleasure was all mine. We will see you at the party.”
Once we’re on the road, I’m bursting to know what was discussed in my dad’s office. “Spill it. What did my dad want to talk to you about?”
Jake chuckles. “I knew it was only a matter of time before you asked.”
I grip the steering wheel. “I’m serious. You two were in there for a while.”
He lifts a brow. “It’s classified information. If I tell you, then—”
“If you say you’ll have to kill us, then I’m going to throat-punch you. Come on, HAF J. Did he tell you not to knock her up out of wedlock?” Drew asks from the backseat.
Jake just shakes his head at Drew’s question. “It is between Greg and me. All I’ll say is, he cares about you deeply and wants to make sure you don’t get hurt. That’s something