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“I should send you to the pool house with no dinner,” Adelia scolded him.
“You’re cute for thinking that would work.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, which made Merritt wonder what kind of relationship they had.
Adelia gave him a dirty look. “Did you talk to your family?” she asked.
He took a sip of his water.
“You didn’t? Come on. It’s almost Christmas. They’ll want to hear from you.”
“I’ll call Skylar later.”
“That’s better than nothing, I guess.” She wrapped her arms around him from the side and hugged him before getting up and going to check on dinner.
Gus sat quietly, not talking to anyone, looking kind of miserable.
Merritt noticed the bandage on his arm and had the urge to say something, maybe even apologize for being so harsh at first.
His eyes met hers. “What?” he snapped.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, there’s something you want to say. I can see it in your eyes. So say it.” He paused for a millisecond then rolled his eyes again. “I don’t know why Adelia thinks any of you people are really her friends.”
She gritted her teeth. There was no way she was going to apologize now, and she was angry at herself for considering it.
“You’re one to talk.” She finally found her words. “You’re obviously close if she’s letting you live here. Yet you didn’t care one iota that she was having a party tonight.”
“Who says iota?”
“Furthermore, you insult her friends without a second thought. And yes, I am her friend. A real friend wouldn’t act the way you’re acting.”
He grunted.
She glared. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘think before you speak’?”
“I say what I’m thinking, and I don’t feel bad about it.”
She leaned forward. “Maybe you should.”
He angled his body to face her, leaning closer to the table. “Maybe you should mind your own business.”
“Maybe you should go back to the pool house.” She leaned in more, her body over the table now.
He leaned across the table, facing her down. “Maybe you shouldn’t text and drive.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, her blood reaching boiling level again. “Maybe you should run against traffic like you’re supposed to.”
“So this is my fault?”
“Hey!” Adelia was standing at the end of the table, staring back and forth between the both of them.
Gus looked up at Adelia with what appeared to be regret on his face and stood. “I’m sorry, Deals. I think I’ll just call it a night after all. Clearly, I don’t care one iota about this party.” He glared at Merritt when he spoke. “Furthermore, I’m not very good company tonight.”
Merritt had never wanted to punch someone before, but she came very close in that moment.
Adelia shook her head. “Obviously.”
Gus hugged her good night and walked toward the pool house, and Merritt was relieved to see him go.