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I can feel the worry come off of Sinclair in waves. I think she might even be shaking, but I can’t look at her. To see the worry on her face might make me go quiet on her behalf but goddamn someone needs to shut this woman up.

Sin’s mother stares at me, her gaze narrowing. I get the sense she’s trying to size me up and doesn’t like what she sees, which is fine. The feeling is mutual. “You’re one of those bossy types, aren’t you?”

She doesn’t know the half of it. “I am merely pointing out that you should speak more respectfully to your daughter in a public setting.”

“We’re in your private home?—”

“With people you don’t know.” I smile, but it’s more of a baring of teeth. “You want to make a good impression, don’t you?”

The woman goes silent and I finally glance over at Sinclair, who’s watching me with gratefulness shimmering in her glassy eyes. I hate that she’s been so worried about this moment and I should’ve listened to her. Her worry was warranted and her mother is a nightmare.

My gaze shifts to my own mother, who’s a saint for putting up with my dad and me. With all of us. She’s chosen to engage with the other side of the table and I envy her. Iris is telling a story about Astrid, and Mom is eating it up. Dad is still chatting with Sin’s father and Brooks, and for once, my father doesn’t seem annoyed with Iris’s husband. This feels like abreakthrough. One I can’t even focus on because I’m dealing with something else.

“Are you going to just sit there and not say a word?” Jennifer asks Sinclair, who remains silent. “You’re going to let him insult me in his home? Shouldn’t he be the one treating his guests with respect?”

“Mom.” Sinclair sends her a pleading look. “Please. Just…stop talking and listen for once.”

“Listen for once? I’ve been listening all my life and finally it’s my time to shine. I’m tired of sitting back and letting everyone else get the attention. Your father. Your brother. You.” Jennifer sneers. “Why doesn’t anyone give me any credit? That’s all I want. I’ve been the backbone of this family ever since I married your father and I have nothing to show for it.”

“Nothing but two children and a husband and a pretty wonderful life if you ask me,” Sinclair says, making me proud. “If you don’t like how your life is, you have the power to change it, you know.”

“But you don’t know what it’s like. Your father?—”

“Enough.” I slap my hand on the edge of the table, making everything shake. Everyone goes silent, turning their attention on me, and I just can’t give a shit. “I’m tired of listening to you whining. If you can’t stop making a spectacle of yourself, I’m going to ask you to leave.”

Her expression switches to indignant in a second and she rises to her feet, tossing her cloth napkin on top of her plate. “You don’t need to ask me to leave. I’m going on my own. Come on, Ron. Sinclair. Let’s go.”

I glance over at her husband, who’s frowning at her. “What’s the problem, Jen?”

“This man.” She waves a hand at me. “Is rude. And disrespectful. He’s kicking me out.”

“You just said you were leaving on your own terms,” I remind her, which makes her even angrier.

“Fine! We’re leaving! Now!”

She starts to march out of the dining room but neither her husband nor her daughter are following. Pausing in the doorway, she turns, leveling her gaze on her daughter. “Sinclair. Let’s go.”

“I-I’m not going with you. I’m staying here.” Sin shakes her head, her gaze going to mine and I offer her a reassuring smile.

An aggravated noise leaves Jennifer and she glares at her husband. “Ron! Come on. I’m not staying in this house for another second.”

“Thank you for having us,” Ron Miller tells my father, his movements slow. Almost reluctant as he stands, offering an apologetic smile to my parents. “I’m sorry about this. Hopefully we can meet up again another time.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Sinclair,” her mother states before she trounces out of the dining room, her husband following after her. Not even a minute later the front door slams, and then the entire room goes quiet.

“Well, shit. Despite all the jock rot talk, I liked him,” Dad declares, taking a sip from his glass. “And that was the last thing I expected. What did you do to get her all worked up, August?”

“Yes, tell us, Augie,” Iris adds, watching me with a particular gleam in her eyes. She’s always loved it when I get in trouble.

“He stood up for me against my mom.” Sin sends me a grateful look before she continues on. “She’s talked down to me practically my entire life and I sort of got used to it, you know? I don’t think she likes that I defied her.”

“You don’t have to worry about her. I’ve got your back,” I tell Sinclair, my voice quiet. I reach for her hand, interlocking our fingers. “She had no business speaking to you that way. I don’t care if she’s your mother. She can’t treat you like that.”

Tears shine in Sinclair’s eyes and they make my heart ache. My entire body ache. I hate seeing her in pain. I never thought I could care so much about another person and here I am,wanting to slay all of Sinclair’s dragons and make sure she’s protected from everyone. “Thank you.”

I scoot closer to her, my voice lowering, my words just for her. “Don’t you realize I’d do anything for you? You’re the most important person to me.”

She nods, a tear sliding down her cheek, and I reach for it, pressing my thumb against it and absorbing the moisture. “No one has ever done that for me before.”