Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“They were not mocking anyone, they were just having fun. No one was hurting anyone. Everyone participating consented, all right? Can we please just—?”
“No! You’re not going to make me sound like the crazy one. Are you kidding me? I knew your eldest brother was fucked up, but you didn’t tell me all of them were. What kind of backward-ass Stepford fucking bullshit is going on here?”
James clears his throat, then looks down the table at Joey. “Maybe you should leave,” he advises.
Joey tosses him a helpless look, as if to say I didn’t know she was going to do this.
And to be fair, how could he? What rational, respectful human would ever come into someone’s home and behave this way?
Apparently on this, Penny and I agree.
“Honestly,” my mother-in-law says, so angry she’s practically boiling. “You are a guest here. You come into my house, to my dinner table and start insulting my family? Who raised you?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. Things have clearly gotten out of hand, but—” Joey tries, but Lauren cuts him off.
“Do not apologize for me. I am not wrong. They are wrong. Everyone sitting at this fucking table of captors and victims is fucked in the head. You told me they all embrace your brother and his brainwashed wife despite what they did to you, but you didn’t tell me they were all backward-thinking psychopaths with no respect for women.”
“No respect for women,” Julia says, laughing. “Honey, you don’t have the first fucking clue what you’re talking about, so it might be a good idea for you to just leave. Clearly, you don’t belong here.”
“There is not a human on this planet more respected and appreciated than my brother’s ‘brainwashed bride,’” James states.
“He would stab someone in the throat for cutting her off in traffic,” Matt states.
Julia nods. “He would summon a global winter and risk the extinction of our species if the sun dared to burn her fair skin.”
Lauren is aghast. “Don’t tell me you like her.”
“I love her,” Julia states. “She’s like a sister to me, and you can rest assured that the only way you’re ever getting into this family is if you feel the same way.”
Penny puffs up. “In this family, we may not always agree with one another, but we always love one another.”
As his mother speaks, my husband grabs his water goblet and takes a sip. We’re all quiet enough to hear the thud as it’s placed down. “Not that this is relevant information to her,” he says, finally breaking his silence. “She will never be part of this family.” He pushes his chair back and stands, his gaze locked on his youngest brother. “Joey, I understand that you’re still angry at me. I even understand that I’m not the easiest target, so you turn all your rage on Jess.” He squeezes my shoulder supportively as he passes behind me. “She’s an easy target, right? So sweet and well-meaning, she doesn’t even fight back when this viper you brought to our dinner table insults her right to her face.”
Lauren scoffs. “Yeah, she’s a doormat. What a surprise.”
Julia grimaces, and Marcus’ brown eyes flash dangerously. He smiles, but anyone who knows him would see the rapier edge to it. “My wife has a kind, forgiving heart and a gentle nature. She doesn’t have to scrap and fight and manipulate to get her share of attention or love. She earns that by simply existing. You wouldn’t understand that, though. You’re not lovable like she is. No one will ever treasure you.”
The smug look drops off Lauren’s face and she sucks in a breath as if the blow landed in her gut.
Which it likely did.
My husband pays much closer attention than most people. While he was quiet, he was observing her and collecting all the weapons he would need to destroy her.
“Damn,” Matt murmurs, leaning back in his chair.
“My family exaggerates my power,” Marcus continues, passing behind Julia’s chair. “I’m not quite capable of single-handedly summoning a global winter to punish the sun for shining on my wife too aggressively, but they’re right that I would if I could. You know what isn’t beyond my reach? You. And I understand that you’re a miserable little person with so many deep-seated insecurities that you need to belittle others in order to make yourself seem better, but look around this table, Lauren.” He gestures around as he passes Jared’s empty seat. “There’s not an idiot among us. We can all see through your bullshit. Nobody’s fooled. No one’s impressed that you hate some guileless sorority girl because she’s probably prettier than you, and, what, she likes pink? What a heinous crime to have committed. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that, without having even met her, we would have much preferred he bring her to this dinner than you. But you already know that, don’t you? I’m sure you feel like everyone feels that way about you all the time. You know you’re nothing special. You know the only way you can convince anyone to waste their time on you is with bullshit behavior you pretend is superior. That’s why you’re mean. That’s why you have to shit on anyone you’re afraid might be better than you. Deep down, you know you tricked Joey into believing you were an upgrade, and you live in fear of him figuring that out and dumping your ass. I bet every night when he’s fucking you, he closes his eyes and pretends you’re someone else. Someone better. Maybe that sorority girl you tricked him into dumping, or at least someone like her. Perhaps even my wife, which is why you feel the need to fling your venom her way. You’re afraid she’s better than you, and you’re right. She is. I’m sure deep down, you know as well as we do that you are truly atrocious company, that no one could bear to be in your presence if you didn’t work so hard to convince them of your value before they could see the lack of it for themselves.” He rocks his head to the side in consideration. “Maybe. Maybe you aren’t aware of this, and you should seek therapy. Maybe then you can learn to be better instead of just pretending to be. It won’t make a difference here, but maybe the next time you meet someone’s family, you won’t be such an insecure mess, or such a joyless prude. In any case, your next relationship, your self-awareness—none of that is my concern. What is my concern is my wife.” Stopping when he finally gets to her, he plants his palm on the table by her plate so he can lean in close. “And I promise you, Lauren, that if you say one more unkind word about my wife, I will ruin your miserable fucking life.”