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E vacated her seat. She pushed Liam out of the way and instructed him to sit by me with a single finger-point.
I didn’t even have a chance to protest. But why would I?
I had just found my perfect distraction.
Chapter 28
Jake
San Antonio
Overthinking, doubting myselfand replaying scenarios in my mind was something that was new to me. It’s not that I was an arrogant guy that was sure in the knowledge that everyone around me was happy and their demeanor was all because of me.
I was just used to never having a little voice pop up from time to time, making me question things. Like why Lucy had switched seats on the plane so abruptly. Or that last night after we slept together, she quietly got dressed and returned to her own room, saying she wanted to get a head start on packing.
It was all seemingly normal, wasn’t it? The reasons for her actions? They were all justified. I was disgusted with the paranoia that had settled within me, like a heavy meal that just wouldn’t digest.
I questioned whether or not I had done something wrong, but Lucy was the same every night we came together as one. That hadn’t changed. At least I hadn’t thought so.
Perhaps she and E had gotten into an argument after the flight to San Antonio. I had heard the name admission but more importantly, I had seen the keen sense of betrayal on E’s face after the fact.
And then there was the possibility that Lucy was feeling a little down due to the fact that the con was almost over. Neither of us had brought it up nor discussed any possibilities as to what was next for us. I had been meaning to, but the timing was always off.
San Antonio was officially behind us now, wrapping up the last work day a few hours ago. Most everyone was gathered in the restaurant’s banquet room for our last meal together.
Depending on the restaurant, there were either a bunch of round tables or sometimes they had a single long table. Tonight, we were seated at the latter, Lucy across from me and down a few seats. E was two seats down from me on my left with Liam on my right. Rodney sat at the end and Lauren was next to Lucy. A few others filled the gaps and only a few empty chairs remained.
There was a certain buzz to the atmosphere, a cacophony of excitement and energy. This was our after party. Though we hadn’t just attended an awards ceremony, we had just concluded a six-week stint on the road, and that was cause for celebration.
Bottles of champagne were passed around the table, the food was abundant and the conversation topics held no boundaries.
As far as I could tell, Lucy and E were on speaking terms, albeit limited.
“So, uh, Lucy,” Liam started, having to raise his voice to be heard over the din, “think you’ll do another con? Or have you had enough of working with this one?” He leaned back in his chair, reached behind me and attempted to ruffle E’s hair.
She deftly leaned away and I didn’t have to glance at her to know her eyes had rolled. My attention turned to Luce, curious what her answer would be.
“I don’t know. I’d love to.” She focused on twirling her pasta on her fork, never meeting his eye. Then she stole a glance in E’s direction, her eyes darting between her plate and her sister. “And no,” she began, “sadly, I barely worked with E, so I wouldn’t have a problem doing this gig again.” Lucy stuffed the pasta quickly in her mouth, looking to her sister once more.
E met her eye, acknowledging her sentiment with a small and imperceptible quirk to her mouth, but said nothing. It was a pity response.
Lauren and I started talking at the same time. I was about to ask Lucy a question, but smiled at Lauren, nodding for her to continue. “I think it’s wonderful the two of you got to do this,” she commented, using her martini glass to motion between the two women. Lauren’s smile was warm and genuine, something that was being mirrored by E.
This time, E spoke. “I know right? Not a lot of siblings can say they’re coworkers, so to speak.” E captured her long hair between her pointer and middle finger, flipping it behind her shoulder.
“I could imagine there would be a fair number of families that would prefernotto work with each other, but you two,” Lauren concluded, “seem pretty tight.”
I continued cutting my stuffed chicken breast. Certainly, E would gloss over their current plight, making polite conversation. But Lucy barked out a laugh before E had a chance.
Lauren wore an uncertain smile, waiting for an explanation if there was to be one.
“We have an unshakeable sisterly bond, don’t we E?” Lucy rested her fork against the side of her plate and pinned E with a stare, challenging her to disagree.
E upended her glass, finishing the contents. And without looking at Lucy to respond, she focused on Lauren. “That we do.”
Liam motioned to the waiter, signaling E needed a refill of her wine. In turn, Lucy slumped in her chair; the action was slight, but it was enough to change her entire outwardly appearance.
“So, what’s next for you Lauren?” E swirled the wine in her glass before taking a dainty sip. The two of them conversed easily, questions and nods of understanding peppering their exchange.
