The Predicament of Persians - A.G. Henley Page 0,16
his ear. “Remember—Best. Behavior.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it.”
Joe winks at me before speaking to James. “I can smell that they have bacon, but I’m not sure how crisp it is. Nice to meet you, James. You’re a lucky guy.”
My brother eyes him. “Yeah, why?”
“Because you have such an incredible woman as a sister.”
James eyes me and snorts, then sits in the closest chair. Joe pulls out a chair for me on the other side of the table, and slides in beside me.
“Where’s your cousin?” I ask.
“I don’t think he’ll make it. He ended up staying at the lounge for a little too long last night.” He winks at me.
I turn to him. “He was there when we met? I didn’t know that.”
“It didn’t seem like the right time to introduce you. Hopefully, he’ll rally later today.”
“I’m going to check out the buffet,” James interrupts.
“Relax,” I tell him. “Order a drink or something first.”
“I’m starving. I’ll be right back.” He shoots so far back in his chair that he nails the woman behind him. She gives my brother’s back a dirty look and then turns her stare on Joe and me. I apologize to her and hurry to push his chair back in.
“So that’s James,” I say to Joe as I sit back down in my chair.
“He seems—”
I hold up a hand. “Please, don’t lie.”
Joe pulls my hand to his lips and kisses my palm, sending electricity zipping across my body. “I wasn’t going to lie. I was going to say he seems hungry.”
I smile. “Thanks. That’s very . . . accurate.”
James returns and manages to pull his chair out without assaulting anyone. Our waiter comes by and asks what we’d like to drink. The question is barely out of his mouth before James orders.
“Coffee and the buffet for me.”
“Please,” I add.
“What would you like, Kathleen?” Joe asks me.
“The same for me, please,” I say.
“Make that three,” Joe says. “And I’ll take the bill afterward.”
“No—” I’m about to tell him I’ll be paying, but James talks over me.
“Sweet, I’m going in.” He slams his chair into the woman again.
She whirls around, black eyes blazing. “Excuse me.”
“What?” James says.
“Can you please stop hitting my chair?”
He throws her a skeptical look. “Maybe, if you could get a little closer to your table.”
I want to disappear. The woman’s build makes it difficult for her to do what he’s asking. As her expression turns from irritated to shocked to stormy, I jump to my feet again.
“I’m so sorry. I promise he won’t hit your chair again.”
“So rude.” She says to me while shooting poisoned arrows at James’s retreating figure. She turns around as I sit in his chair and pull it as far forward as possible. I can’t make eye contact with Joe.
He doesn’t say anything for a minute. “I can see what you’re dealing with.”
I nod, trying not to cry humiliated tears. “I just don’t know what to do when he’s like this. Which is most of the time.”
Joe takes my hand across the table and squeezes it softly, then holds it. When I finally calm down, I look up and smile my thanks.
“Okay?” he asks.
I nod.
“Listen, before your brother gets back, I want to tell you what an amazing evening I had with you. I tossed and turned all night, wanting the sun to hurry and rise so I could be with you again. You look stunning again today, by the way.”
My skin tingles all over with the compliment. “So did I. And so do you.”
He’s wearing casual pants and a thin-striped, light blue golf shirt that brings out the sunny sky in his eyes. His hair is spun gold in the light from the windows. I’m gripped by the urge to lean in and kiss him.
We must actually be leaning, because James makes a noise.
“Gross. Scoot over Kathleen.” He stands beside our table with a giant plate loaded with waffles, a pile of bacon, potatoes, and a full-sized muffin. I don’t know where he puts the food he eats.
“Buffet?” Joe asks me.
“Sit over there,” I hiss at James, pointing at my old seat next to Joe. No one occupies the table behind it. I make sure to tuck in my chair tightly.
Joe smooths my fingers with his as we stand in line for a plate.
“Kathleen, I’m just going to lay my feelings out here. I want to spend every minute of this convention with you. As many as you can spare. I don’t want to waste a single second being apart.”
I meet his