“Of course she did,” Ethan says, rolling his eyes.“I’m not falling for that again.You’d think after thirty years, I’d have figured out how to say no to her.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, leaning back in my chair.“She’s probably already ordered the catering.”
We laugh, the easy banter briefly cutting through the tension I’ve been carrying all morning.
“So,” Ethan says, casually shifting topics as he finishes his last dumpling, “Joel’s back in town.”
I freeze, the humor draining from my face.“Yeah, I know,” I say tightly.
Ethan blinks, clearly surprised by my reaction.“You do?”
“It’s not exactly a secret,” I snap.“It’s all over the internet.Every other post is ‘Joel Price Returns to Duluth!’like it’s some kind of headline-worthy event.”
“I mean, some people think it’s pretty awesome.Just because you?—”
I shoot him a glare that could cap a rhino at the knees.
Ethan raises his hands in mock surrender.“Okay, okay.I just thought I’d mention it, in case you hadn’t heard.”
“Well, I have,” I say, crossing my arms.“And before you even start—no, I’m not going to see him.”
Ethan sighs, leaning against the door frame.“Anna, it’s not like he came back to mess with you.He’s got a gig at Club Nocté.That’s it.I don’t understand why you have such a problem with him.”
I narrow my eyes at him, my fingers drumming against the arm of my chair.“You don’t understand?Really?You’re standing there, eatingmydumplings, inmyhouse, and you think this is the time to question why I have a problem with Joel fucking Price?”
Ethan shrugs, like he’s genuinely baffled.“He’s my best friend and practically family.He’s a good guy.”
“Oh, sure,” I say, the sarcasm dripping off my words.“Saint Joel.Paragon of moral integrity.How could I possibly have a problem with him?”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“And you’re being oblivious.”I push out of my chair, pacing to the window and staring out at the quiet street.It’s a perfect late September day—crisp air, golden leaves swirling lazily in the breeze.The kind of day that shouldn’t be wasted thinking about Joel Price.
Ethan sighs again, that big-brother-patient kind of sigh that makes me want to throw something.“He’s not the same guy he was as kids, you know.People change, Anna.”
“Oh, please,” I say, spinning back to face him.“This isn’t aboutpeople.This is about Joel.And Joel doesn’t change.He just gets better at pretending he’s not a self-absorbed?—”
“Stop,” Ethan says quickly, cutting me off before I can finish.“I get it.You don’t like him.But you can’t avoid him forever.”
“Watch me,” I mutter, crossing my arms again.
Ethan shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.“You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“And yet, you keep coming over,” I snap back, though there’s no real heat in it.
He chuckles, pushing off the doorframe.“Alright, I’ll drop it.Just… don’t make things weird when you run into him.Because you will run into him if Mom’s scheming comes to fruition.”
“I’m not the one who makes things weird,” I say, sitting back down and flipping open my laptop.“Joel’s got that covered all by himself.”
Ethan snorts, but he doesn’t argue.Instead, he shakes his head.“Well, I suppose I better head back.Wish me luck.”
“Tell Tess I said hi,” I call after him, rolling my chair to the doorway.“And leave the charger here!”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says, putting his jacket on and pulling the front door open.He pauses, looking back at me with a thoughtful expression.“You know, you might want to open that envelope someday.Just saying.”
I glare at him as the door closes behind him.
For a long moment, I sit there, the room silent except for the faint hum of my laptop.My eyes drift to the desk drawer, where the stupid envelope is no doubt sitting smugly, waiting for its moment to ruin my life.