Page 106 of The Hardest Hit

“No, I do not,” said Eleanor crisply.

“Well, why should I care what you want?” demanded Dominique. “You don’t seem to care about what we want. You certainly don’t care about what Evan wants.”

Evan found his eyes going from family member to family member. He felt disoriented and confused. Everything was off. He couldn’t understand what he’d done. Was this his fault? His grandmother wasn’t like this. Aiden and Dominique weren’t like this. He looked again at his cousins. Sweet, ridiculous Aiden was wearing a bitter, fuming expression that Evan felt intimately familiar with—he’d worn it often enough himself. Light-hearted Dominique was eyeing Eleanor with a hard stare, a look he’d only ever seen comingfromEleanor.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Dominique,” snapped Eleanor. “Stop pretending to like Evan. You know what kind of person he is. Don’t be so naïve to think that love conquers all and he’ll suddenly become someone different.”

“Lucinda Ramierz,” said Aiden. “Every Monday Evan saves a seat for a woman with two kids who he’s never even talked to. That’s who Evan is.”

“Comic book and a coke,” said Dominique. “Dad used to buy Aiden a comic book and a coke on his birthday and now Evan does it.”

“I thought that was you,” said Aiden looking surprised.

“That’s who Evan is,” said Dominique smugly.

“Heh,” said Aiden. “Genevieve Foundation.”

“What?” Eleanor was looking from Aiden to Dominique in confusion.

“Dominique wanted to start that scholarship foundation in mom’s name, but you shot her down. We didn’t have any money of our own, but Evan had just inherited, so he wrote me a check and said to say it came from me.”

“It was a foolish idea,” said Eleanor dismissively. “We already have a Deveraux giving fund.”

“It seemed like a good idea,” said Evan weakly. “Why should we always have to be remembered as Deverauxes?”

“You’re always a Deveraux,” sneered Eleanor, and Evan felt like she’d slapped him.

“I can’t,” said Evan, backing up and looking at Aiden and Dominique in desperation. “I can’t do this. It’s all wrong and I can’t be here.”

He stumbled out into the hall.

“Ah, Mr. Deveraux,” said Theo. “Did you want to be at the head of the table? Or should I put in another leaf?”

“What?” asked Evan.

“Mr. Jackson just phoned and said he was bringing a guest.”

Evan tried to focus. “No, it will be five. I’m not staying.”

“You will stay, Evan Deveraux,” said his grandmother, coming out of the study.

“Alexander,” Evan blurted out.

“What?”

“If you’re mad, you’re supposed to use the full name.”

Eleanor marched forward and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him into the dining room. “We do not discuss family business in front of the staff,” she said, shutting the door behind her. He blinked in surprise. He didn’t think he’d ever heard Theo referred to as staff. “You will stay. You will stay and do as you’re told.”

The dining room doors slammed open. “Middle names, Ev?” asked Dominique. “That’s how it’s done?”

“That’s what Olivia says.”

“Eleanor Madeline Hicks Deveraux,” said Dominique, “you are going to stop treating Evan like this.”

“Dominique’s right, Grandma,” said Aiden, coming in after Dominique. “It’s got to stop. Makes dinners awkward, and I don’t like wanting to kick my Grandma in the shins.”

Evan barked out a laugh and walked away from his grandmother. He stood at one end of the table and looked at the three of them. What was he supposed to do? His therapist would say talk. Share feelings. That didn’t seem like a Deveraux thing to do. He didn’t even know how to start. Everyone was so angry. He just didn’t understand why Eleanor was so angry at him.