10. Connor
“You people are animals,” Scott throws his cards down on the massive oak table in Dad’s family room. “I can’t handle this anymore, I’m out.”
“Yeah,” Chris agrees. “This is just painful now. I think it’s probably time to fly the white flag, man.”
“Are you serious?” Dad needles. “We’ve barely started here, what is wrong with you two? Christopher, I raised you better than this.”
“‘Get out while you’re ahead,’ Dad, that’s what I can still hear you yelling at me from miles away. I am now many dollars behind, so I think it’s time to cut my losses.”
I stifle a laugh, but the snort doesn’t go unnoticed. My brother swings around and points at me. “Don’t even start with me, you’re never here to game with these…these vultures. They’re taking advantage of the younger generation, and I won’t stand for it anymore.”
I can’t hold back the smile, but I do hold up my hands in capitulation. He’s right, after all; I’m never here for this part.
But that isn’t why he can’t play poker for shit.
“I don’t know,” Jess chimes in. “I mean…like…I’ve been here for?—”
Scott rushes in to Chris’ defense. “Nope!” is all he says.
“Two years—” Jess continues.
“Nope!”
“And I feel like?—”
“Nope! Nope, nope, nope!”
“Enfants,” Celeste intervenes. “The adults don’t have time for your bickering. If the boys wish to leave like scared little bunnies, then let them leave.”
Dad and Chuck both crow a decidedly un-adult, “Ohhhhhh!” before Scott says, “And now I’ll take after my mother’s ancestors and surrender.”
Chris can’t completely side with his friend after the dig on Celeste’s French heritage. “Mrs. Berringer, I would never disrespect you like that. If I was your son, you wouldn’t have to deal with that kind of trash talk.”
Celeste grins and shakes her head. “Beau parleur. Come here, boy, and give me a hug. Get my son home to his family and yourself back safe.” Chris obliges, kissing her on the cheek before clapping Chuck on the back and hugging my dad.
Scott follows suit with the parents before giving me a quick handshake. “Good to see you stick around this year, Connor. You home for Christmas, too?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Keep my sister safe from the riff-raff over there, huh?”
“Big brother, I am well and truly capable of handling my own, thank you!” Jess scoffs.
I agree. “I was actually hoping she might keep me safe if we’re being honest.”
Scott turns and looks at our parents. “Probably right. Keep her close then.”
“But not too close,” Chris, who is now standing behind Jess, warns. “I won’t have you sullying the good name of my fiancée.”
Jess grins for what has to be the millionth time tonight. “The fact that you think my name is still subject to sullying is why we’re getting married this spring.”
“Goddammit, you two, knock it off!” Scott moves towards Chris and punches him in the shoulder.
“Watch the shoulder, he’s got to stay fit for the honeymoon!” Jess doesn’t look back at the two grown men wrestling behind her, but instead looks straight at me conspiratorially and winks.
The joke is worth a chuckle as it is, but it’s far warmer to get the impression she’s trying to include me, even subtly. I can’t help but smile back at her.
“Ugh! Enough! I can’t!” Scott covers his ears. “All right, all right, we gotta get out of here.” He leans in and gives Jess a quick kiss on the top of her head before raising his hand to me and the parents. “Bye, everyone! Ourivoire, Maman.”
Once the front door shuts, my dad raises an eyebrow. “So,” he says slowly, “Now that the kids are gone, how about we make this a little more interesting?”
“Oh my!” Jess says in a thick southern accent and fans herself with her cards. “Mr. Price, are you suggestin’ we partake in some alcoholic beverages?”
“My dear Jessica, I do believe you read my mind.” Dad suddenly becomes Rhett to Jess’ Scarlett and I don’t know how to feel about it. He stands and offers her his elbow.
“Such a gentleman!” she exclaims and curtsies before accepting his arm and walking with him to the kitchen.
“What the hell just happened?” I ask the Berringers.
Chuck laughs. “Son, you’re in the lion’s den now.”
Celeste agrees. “Last year Scott and Connor got…um…what’s the polite way to say…”
“They got their asses handed to them,” Chuck finishes.
“Oui. They got their asses handed to them.”
“Now let’s see if you and Jessie can keep up.”
“Should I be scared right now? I feel scared.”
Celeste doesn’t crack a smile. “Oh Connor. You have no idea.”
I’ve known Chuck and Celeste for nearly thirty years. They were like surrogate parents to me growing up. Chuck taught me how to work on cars at his shop. Celeste was constantly in my house with Mom cooking and running us all around to various extracurricular activities.
But I feel like I’m meeting them now for the first time in the most terrifying way possible.
“All right, ladies and gentlemen,” Jess emerges from the kitchen with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and…are those shot glasses?
“Let the games begin!” Dad comes up from behind her with a bottle of wine and sets it directly in front of Celeste, who fluidly grabs it, uncorks it, and refills her glass, all while staring directly at me.
“Take it easy on him, Maman,” Jess laughs. “It’s his first time, be gentle.”
At that, my dad throws his head back and laughs in a way that’s both warming and unsettling. I know I’m a grown adult, but these are not the kind of jokes I make around…tenured adults.
“Don’t worry,” Jess winks at me. “I won’t let them rough you up right away.”
“What about you?” I ask.
Jess doesn’t skip a beat. “Oh, I’m not making any promises there,” she grins as she fills up the shot glasses and passes one out to everyone except Celeste.
Is she flirting with me? I’ve only had a few beers tonight and zero female contact in two years, so it’s hard to know for sure. I’ve been pretty quiet most of the evening, just taking in the easy back and forth that our families have with each other. It isn’t anything new, obviously, but in a way, it feels new. I guess before, I had always been so focused on what time I needed to leave to get back home for work that I didn’t really enjoy it like I am tonight. And Jess? It’s like someone bottled up pure joy and put it in her drink. From playing tea party with her nieces to tackling Scott and Chris like the typical little sister to being devious and drinking whiskey with our parents. She seems to move effortlessly between all of them, genuinely happy wherever she is.
And if you even suspect a beautiful woman who loves life is flirting with you, then you need to make sure you dish it back out.
“It’s okay,” I crack my knuckles and down the shot, paying attention to the burn making its way down my throat. “I like it a little rough.” I don’t miss the pretty blush that tints Jess’ cheeks, or the surge of pride for knowing I was responsible. Maybe vacation isn’t so bad after all.