Chapter 40
EDEN
I haveno right to be jealous.
No one knows that Danny and I are a couple, so it makes sense why Mom would want to set him up. She’s always playing matchmaker for the younger people in her office. She’s done it with both Cruz and me too.
But despite all the logical reasons I quietly recite to myself, it does nothing to quell the jealously bubbling up inside of me. I gaze at Danny, taking in how uncomfortable he clearly is, given his forced smile and uneasy body language. His hands are in his pockets. When he shakes hands with Gretchen, it’s quick, barely two seconds of contact. As they chat, he’s offering polite responses, not really delving into too much detail.
And then he peers over Gretchen’s shoulder to look at me. His eyebrows furrow together slightly, like he’s offering a silent apology.
God, Eden. Calm down. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. It’s clear he’s not into her. He’s just trying to politely navigate this awkward-as-hell situation.
The invisible fist pressing against my chest loosens.
“It’s so loud in here, don’t you think?” Gretchen says, leaning closer to Danny.
“Oh, um, not really. I think the sound level is just fine.”
Gretchen shakes her head. “Would you mind if we step out for a sec? I’m having the hardest time hearing you.”
Before he can answer, she loops her arm in his, and they trot out of the ballroom. My blood runs hot as I watch the two of them disappear.
“Damn, what’s with the intense look?” Cruz slides up next to me. I take that as my cue to school my features and get myself in check.
Slowly, quietly, I inhale. “Nothing. I was just squinting. The lighting in here is a bit weird, don’t you think?”
Cruz glances around, seeming to just now notice the pinkish glow of the room. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Oh, anak,” Mom walks up to me and loops her arm in mine. “There’s this very handsome new lawyer at the firm. I’ve mentioned you to him a few times.”
“Mom, I don’t need you to set me up.”
She crosses her arms, like I’ve offended her. “What do you mean? You know I have excellent taste in men. Look at your father.”
I groan. “Mom, that’s kind of gross to mention Dad when you’re talking about setting me up.”
“Never mind that. You need to meet this young man. His name is Jake, he went to Stanford, and I told him you were single.”
“Mom, come on. Give it a rest, will you?” Cruz says gently behind the rim of his glass. “I’m sure Eden can manage her dating life just fine on her own.” He shoots a sympathetic stare at me. I mouth “thank you” to him. Yeah, Cruz is overbearing and overprotective, but he’s got my back in front of our parents when it counts.
“You should be happy that you have a mother who cares enough about your love life to try and set you up,” Mom says. “That way you don’t have to go to bars and meet god-knows-who. Or do online dating. Or dating apps.”
“Mom, there’s nothing wrong with online dating or dating apps. Or meeting people in bars,” Cruz says.
Mom waves a hand, dismissing his comment. “They’re all so classless. And potentially dangerous. You’re engaging with total strangers! They could be criminals!”
Cruz and I roll our eyes.
Dad chimes in with a comment wishing for the good old days of dating.
“You know, when the men acted like gentlemen and picked up their dates, held the door open, paid the tab. Now it’s all about hooking up and sending naked photos of each other online and on your phone. What’s that called again? Sexting?”
Cruz makes a grossed-out face. “Dad, please never say ‘sexting’ ever again.”
I bite my tongue to keep from going off. If they only knew their precious baby girl ran a dating app, their heads would explode.
One of Dad’s friends walks up to him and they chat for a second.
“Cruz, can I get your help?” Dad says. “Mr. Larter says he needs help bringing in some gifts from his car.”
“Oh I told Alan he didn’t need to get us anything,” Mom says.
“I know, I know.” Dad shakes his head. “But you know Alan. Any excuse to give a gift. Moira said it’s his love language. Whatever that means.”
Cruz walks off to help Dad’s law partner bring in gifts and I pivot to head for the bar for another drink, but Mom catches me by the arm.
“Wait anak, your dad and I want to hear how your new coding job is going.”
“Oh, um. Fine.”
They both frown and I have to swallow back the knot of nerves that just shot up my throat. After all these months, I didn’t think to come up with a more elaborate lie than vaguely mentioning I do freelance coding work.
“It’s for, um, a small nonprofit,” I quickly say. “They need a lot of help with the backend of their website.”
I don’t miss the way Mom and Dad visibly deflate. “A small nonprofit?” Dad repeats.
“Yup.”
“Hmm,” Mom adds with a frown. “So how is the pay?”
I bite back a snarky comment about how money isn’t everything. It wouldn’t mean much to my money-obsessed parents.
“It pays enough.” I crunch down on the ice in my empty glass.
Dad shakes his head. “Honey, that’s all well and good, but what about your future? Nonprofit work is noble, don’t get me wrong, and there are plenty of established nonprofits that do very well. But just how small is the one you’re working for?”
“Um, well…”
“You should think about getting into something more lucrative,” he says.
“Yes, exactly. You have to value yourself, anak. Think about your long-term earning potential. You’re just stunting yourself by taking what I assume is a pretty low-paying job. Small nonprofits aren’t known for their impressive pay scales.”
The steam inside of me has turned to fire. I’ve stood quietly this whole night while my parents aimed insensitive and out-right insulting comments about my appearance and my work. I can’t take it anymore.
I slam my empty glass on the nearby standing table. “Stop. Both of you.”