Chapter 7
seven
“This is not okay, Seth,” I said, seething. “You cannot show up at my work and spring this on me.” I pressed my shaking hands deeper in between my legs. Anger pulsed through my veins.
“Dinner? It’s just a meal. You eat it every day.” His tone was far too jovial for my current disposition.
“Dinner with him.” I wasn’t in the mood to play verbal tennis.
“Well, to be fair, I did tell you we were having dinner with Dad, and that I was picking you up.”
“It had to be today?”
“No, it just happened to be today.”
My brother didn’t bother hiding his amusement at my irritation. I glared at him from the passenger seat of his car and debated my escape options. We were currently on I40 heading into downtown, so now wasn’t the ideal time to attempt my first tuck and roll out of a moving vehicle. Though, I did wonder if Tripp offered that kind of adventure. Maybe I could use the training for my brother’s future attempts at twinnapping. My next best option was to schedule a rideshare to pick me up as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. When I pulled my phone out of my bag, Seth tsked his tongue against his teeth.
“Don’t even think about it,” he warned.
“Think about what?” I asked, feigning innocence. But my brother knew me too well.
“Finding a rideshare to meet you at the restaurant. Dinner with Dad and Mel is happening whether you want it to or not.”
“Mel?” He’d conveniently left out the part about our stepmother joining us.
“Did I not tell you?”
“You failed to mention that crucial piece of information. Anything else you want to add?” I loved my brother dearly but wasn’t above considering murder at the moment. His death and my arrest would solve the impending doom of dinner, but the long-term consequences weren’t worth it. I’d probably miss him, too. Maybe.
So, I gritted my teeth and decided to stew in silence for the remainder of the drive. I ignored his every attempt at small talk until he gave up. It was the longest ten-minute car ride I’d suffered through in recent memory.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Seth had the audacity to ask me to “behave.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Sure, his request was completely reasonable, but it wasn’t as if I needed him to remind me. I turned toward him and painted the fakest smile across my face. I bared my teeth and kept the uncomfortable grin locked in place as we walked inside. At least he’d picked one of my favorite restaurants for my torture.
“Welcome to Brine’s, how many?” the hostess asked.
“Four if you count the unwanted guests,” I said before Seth could answer.
Shaking his head, Seth said, “Reservation for four. Seth Barnes.” The hostess nodded and checked her computer before informing us that the rest of our party was already seated and leading us toward the back of the restaurant. Despite my deep desire to be anywhere but here, the overwhelming scent of garlic and marinara sauce reminded me just how hungry I was. Who knew trampolines could work up such a big appetite?
My hunger quickly soured when we arrived at the table.
Brett and Mel were waiting with nervous smiles. As much as I hated to admit it, every time I looked at Brett it was hard not to see that we were related. He had the same hazel eyes and brown hair that we did. Like Seth, Brett was tall and lean. Growing up, Gran used to say Seth got his athleticism from our dad, and I got my creativity from Mom. Not that I could’ve confirmed that piece of information.
Mel stood to greet me, but I chose to ignore her outstretched hand. Her chocolate brown eyes dropped toward the floor at the rejection, and I immediately felt bad. Reluctantly, I offered her a side hug and caught the subtle scent of lilacs in her blonde hair.
They’d ordered a bottle of the sweet white wine I liked for the table. I knew from past forced family bonding experiences that Brett would try to pretend like he knew me. He’d ask about work and throw in some new tidbit that I was certain Seth had fed him. Then he’d feign interest in whatever hobby he’d seen me obsessing over on social media. The wine, always the same and always my favorite, was always step one in the Convince Sadie I’m a Good Dad game we played every few months. He’d yet to win a single round. I had years and years of practice under my belt.
Seth took the seat next to Mel, knowing I wouldn’t. I, begrudgingly, plopped myself between him and Brett. My brother passed a knowing glance toward me. Another plea for me to be on my best behavior. No promises , I thought and hoped for the millionth time that twin telepathy was a real thing. It wasn’t. Judging by the smug grin on his face, he took my lack of response as acquiescence.
“So, Sadie,” Brett said as he poured me a glass of wine, “I hear you and Ava just landed a big new client.”
“We did.”
“And Seth said something about you joining him on some of those extreme sport things he does?” Mel chimed in.
“Yep.” I took a long, slow sip of the wine, careful to not down the entire glass. I’d be polite and play along as much as my resentment would allow me, but I wasn’t going to drink too much or offer more than one or two-word answers. If my father wanted complete sentences, he should try and show up more than once or twice a year.
Seth cleared his throat and kicked me under the table. I shrugged in response. He should really know how this game is played by now. We’d been doing it since we were teenagers.
“Sadie was actually practicing for her bungee jump this weekend when I picked her up. The campaign they came up with is brilliant,” Seth said.
I bit back my smile. It was brilliant, and I appreciated that my brother recognized this, but I wasn’t taking the bait. Awkward silence engulfed us before Brett decided to speak up again.
“Wow, bungee jumping? That seems a little out of character, Sadie. I know your brother loves chasing adrenaline rushes, but you and Seth couldn’t be more opposite when it comes to that stuff.”
“It is,” I agreed. Every bit of this was out of character.
“What inspired the campaign?” Brett asked, trying to get more out of me.
“The app.”
“What app?” Mel asked.
“Seth?” I nodded toward my twin. It was his app; he could talk about it. Plus, I knew he couldn’t resist an opportunity to take a deep dive into the nerdy end of the pool. Just as I’d predicted, Seth launched into a spirited monologue on the app he was developing for Take the Leap. Brett and Mel were so enthralled with his speech that they completely forgot I was there. Just how I preferred it.
When the waitress came to take our order, Seth paused long enough to order appetizers and another bottle of wine before we each ordered our meals. I was hoping to avoid multiple courses and a long-drawn-out meal, but it appeared my brother had other plans. I groaned silently and slumped back in my chair when the waitress left us alone to continue our conversation.
Thankfully, Seth picked up where he left off. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched as Mel and Brett stared at Seth and nodded along as if they understood what Angular and UI/UX meant. I’ll give them some credit; they could both play the part of the doting parent well. Although Mel hadn’t exactly received the warmest welcome to her stepmom role, she seemed to at least somewhat care about the lives of the spawns of her husband. Even if he didn’t.
Mel was wife number three for dear old Dad. First had been my mother, but she’d died and left him with newborn twins. When we were two, he met and married Claire, who hadn’t much cared for kids, especially not toddlers. So Brett shipped us off to Nashville to live with his mother while he started a new life that didn’t involve the daily reminder of his dead first love. When Claire left him for her divorce lawyer, Brett didn’t come back to claim us. Instead, he left us with Gran and carried on as if he were living his best childless, bachelor life.
Then Gran died and my heart broke beyond repair, and we spent an awkward two years living in her old house with Brett and his new bride, Mel. By then it was too late. I’d spent fourteen years of my life without him and wasn’t about to welcome him back with open arms.
“Wait? What do you mean Sadie broke the app?” Mel asked, laughing. Hearing my name pulled me out of my thoughts and back into the conversation.
“She matched with literally nothing. I’d built it to offer everyone an answer, but I didn’t factor in the completely risk-averse people.” My brother and Brett both laughed along with Mel. “From what Ava and Tripp tell me, the app and Sadie’s completely boring life is what saved their pitch.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, what saved the pitch was my idea to pull the app into our plan and shift our presentation.”
“She speaks!” Seth said and threw his fists in the air in victory. Damn.
“Whatever.”
“Tell me more about the pitch and what you’ll be doing,” Brett said.
I sighed. I couldn’t answer that with just two words. As much as I hated the idea of doing all of these challenges, I was proud of the campaign we’d put together. It was innovative and had the potential to make a huge impact for our client.
“Basically, it’s an experiential campaign. I’ll do challenges alongside Tripp James, the founder of the company, and we’ll document and share the entire process. The goal is to show people the wide variety of experiences that Take the Leap offers and to make them more appealing to normal people.”
“Did you mention skydiving?” Brett asked Seth. He sounded a little nervous. Or scared? Maybe concerned? I wasn’t sure which, but none of the options were on brand for him. He’d never so much as offered me a bandage for a paper cut, much less expressed interest in my well-being.
“That’s the last challenge. Bungee jumping is up first. Then there will be a few others before that.”
“Like what?” Brett asked. There was definitely something off with the way his voice shifted.
“Sadie?” Seth asked. He kicked me under the table again. I rolled my eyes at him.
“We don’t have them all planned out, yet. But the list of ideas includes things like hot air balloon rides, skateboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, and some other stuff like that.”
Brett’s eyes went wide as he studied my face. “Isn’t that, I don’t know, dangerous?”
“Yes, that’s kind of the point.”
He shifted in his seat. “I don’t know how I feel about you doing all of that, Sadie Bug.” I bristled at the use of Gran’s nickname for me. “What if something goes wrong?”
“It won’t,” Seth said before I could agree with Brett.
“I’ll be fine.” I didn’t believe the words even as I said them, but the change in Brett’s demeanor was freaking me out.
“I’m just worried about you. It seems like a lot to take on for one client.”
“Brett, I’m in good hands. Tripp and his team know what they’re doing.”
“They do,” Seth agreed, “and they’ll make sure she’s taken care of. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m her dad. I have everything to worry about. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
I didn’t bother hiding my amusement. “Really? Are you serious right now?”
“Sadie,” Seth said, warning me.
“You’re worried about me? Now? I’m an adult. The time to worry about me was when I was two and essentially orphaned. You don’t get to worry about me now. You lost that privilege a long time ago.”
“I’ve never stopped worrying about you or loving you, Sadie, you know that.”
“I don’t know that. Nor do I believe it.” I slid my chair back and stood quickly. Brett stood to stop me, but Mel placed her hand on his arm. “Don’t. It’s okay. Thank you for coming tonight, Sadie. I know this isn’t easy for you,” she said, turning her attention back to me.
I bit back the sarcastic response that burned on my tongue. Instead, I looked down at Mel and offered an apologetic smile. I truly meant no harm or ill will toward her. She wasn’t to blame for his past choices. Before I could say another word, I grabbed my purse and headed to the door.
As soon as my back was to them, tears welled in my eyes. I blinked them away and told myself the crying could wait. I refused to risk letting them see me show a single ounce of emotion.
A gentle hand grabbed my shoulder. “At least let me drive you home,” Seth said.
I shook my head. “I’ll get a rideshare or call Ava. Go back. Enjoy your dinner.”
Seth had always been more tolerant of Brett. He’d forgiven him for abandoning us. He’d even managed to build a relationship with him. He could call him Dad without so much as a hint of bitterness or sarcasm. Unlike me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive him, much less want him to be a part of my life.
How dare he show up and act as if he had a say in anything I did?