Chapter 1 #3
“He doesn’t trust anyone to do their jobs, and he’s onto you,” Dex reminds me.
“Thanks. I heard you the first time.” I wish he would shut up and just eat. What is wrong with this guy? I stare at the slice of buttery steak on my fork, bring it to my mouth and inhale. Then I eat it. It’s awesome.
“He doesn't trust anyone,” Rio mutters. “Thinks he knows better. The hell he does. Look at what happened—”
He stops abruptly. Nobody speaks. Instead, we all look at one another, because Zach doesn't know. We’re all wondering who’s going to say it.
“Let him eat,” Jett says, quietly. “It can wait ten minutes.”
Enzo makes a disagreeing face. “No. He needs to know.”
I shake my head catching his stare. Not now. Let the guy eat his steak.
The easy atmosphere around the table falters. Zach slowly lowers his fork to his plate. “Know what?”
Enzo exhales. “Father was rushed to the hospital again.”
Silence settles over the table, then Zach lowers his fork and asks. “When?”
“A few days after you guys left,” Jett replies, lifting his glass of wine. “His blood pressure spiked and he became dehydrated. His kidney function suddenly worsened, and he collapsed while pouring himself another glass of whiskey.”
“Typical,” Dex says, helping himself to some more steak slices.
I notice that Zach still hasn't picked up his fork. Maya has also stopped eating, her hand on Zach's arm. “He thinks he's invincible,” Zach murmurs to himself.
“His kidneys have deteriorated again and the doctors are saying the medication isn't enough anymore.” Enzo wipes his mouth with a napkin.
“He's been looking like shit for weeks,” Rio exclaims. “You can see it. I don't trust that he ever took his medication properly.”
“He ignored half their instructions, kept drinking, kept acting like he was invincible. What do you expect?” Jett shrugs like this outcome was inevitable.
Enzo glances at the rest of us, then Zach. “They're talking about a transplant now. We all decided to get tested.”
“All of you?” Zach asks, his gaze going around the table at all the guys.
“Seemed the right thing to do,” Dex says. “Though I'm praying I'm not a match. That would be some kind of fucked up, knowing he could get my kidney.”
I glance at the women and see that they are all listening quietly.
“He's been discharged,” Enzo mentions. “They managed to stabilize him and sent him home after three nights.”
“Does he know? About the transplant?” Zach asks, finally picking up his fork.
“Hell, yeah.” I finally add to the conversation. “He's been told that the medication might slow further deterioration, but it won't reverse the damage that's already been done.”
“He’s not good. Not good at all,” Jett says to Zach. “He still insists on working, so if you thought you wouldn't run into him at the office, think again.”
“You're all getting tested?” Zach asks, like he's not sure he wants to.
“You have to do the right thing,” Cari says, her voice quiet and steady. “Losing a parent is hard ... even if you … “ She swallows, unable to finish the sentence. Jett places his hand over hers, staring at her as if he’d give his life for her.
“There are a lot of stages to check for compatibility. It’s a long process and it can take a few months,” Enzo explains. “He's not about to die anytime soon.”
“Can we please not talk about him tonight?” Zach snaps.
This isn't what we're used to from him, and it takes some adjusting to. He was always our father's favorite. He was his crusader, and now he’s bitter.
I understand it. After that shit we learned about what he did to Maya's mom, we've all become even more hardened towards him, despite still staying put. We’re still tied by our umbilical cords, not to the man, but to the company he founded.
I remember saying that if he was lying dead in a ditch, I'd leave him there, and I mean that with every fiber of my being. But here I am, starting the process to see if I’m a match.
The cracked compass on my forearm reminds me of the difference between right and wrong.
What I should do, even though I don’t feel like it.
“I don’t have anything to eat,” Brooke wails.
“How the hell did you forget about my daughter?” Jett snaps.
“Oh, sweetie.” Cari strokes her hair, and stands up, as if she’s about to head into the kitchen.
“Uh-oh.” Rio scrapes his chair back and motions for Cari to sit back down. “I’ll get it. You should have said something sooner, Brooke.” He disappears out of sight, returning seconds later.
We all break into guilty laughter, and everyone apologizes to Brooke, who is soaking up the attention.
“For you, madam,” Rio announces in a terrible French accent that has Brooke looking confused. “Chicken goujons and fries for the little lady.”
She claps her hands together, excitedly. We all fall silent, as we start to eat. The food is so delicious, the wine flows, and looking around the table, the atmosphere is easy and relaxed once again.
Talk of the old man is forgotten, and everyone is happily sitting in couples. Jett and Cari, with Brooke. Rio and Raquel. Dex and Dani. Zach and Maya.
And me and Enzo.