“What are you talking about, Jasmine?" Mum had the good grace to actually look startled. "Of course not. It’s about Harry and Dom.” But she was gleaming. We could all see she was already plotting how she could milk our relationship for all it was worth. I knew she would find some way to benefit from it, but I didn’t think she would be so blatant about her plans.
“No," Jazz growled. "You are making it about yourself. Again.”
Mum’s face twisted into a scowl as she looked at Jazz from across the table. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to have Jazz sitting so close to Mum. I’d hoped the candelabra would have been a good buffer, but now there was a chance it could be ammunition.
“Jasmine, I believeyouare making it about yourself by raising your voice and using that tone.”
Jazz lifted her hand, rubbing the bridge of her nose before sighing. “Jesus Christ.”
The girl’s eyes flicked between Jazz and Mum with the exact same look as Dom as they enjoyed the show. I was more worriedJazz and Mum would devolve into shouting for shouting's sake and scare them.
Dom grinned down at me and I returned it, both annoyed and happy he had gone for it so quickly.
“I hate you.” I pursed my lips.
“No, you don’t,” he said, his gaze growing hot again.
“I will not have that kind of language at the table either.” Mum scowled. “This is an important announcement, and we will present it as we always do with matters such as this: as a family. As proud Fischers who support their son and brother.”
Dad gently leaned forward, sliding the gin glass away from Mum. Mum loved how shattering things got her a lot more attention than simply kicking up a fuss, and had made a habit of it every time there was an argument with Jazz or Cat.
“For fuck’s sake!” Jazz shouted. “That’s not how this works!” She lowered her voice as Dom's sisters flinched. “Sorry, guys,” she murmured. “But, Mum, come on, this is a super huge thing for Harry, and for Dom. After everything he’s been through, you just want to go ahead and throw a party and announce his sexuality as, what? A marketing campaign?”
Dom kept clutching my hand, slipping down to rest on my thigh. We knew best to ride these things out. But I loved that Jazz was defending us. I was expecting to be the one to shoot Mum down, but I should have guessed. Any excuse for an argument, and Mum and Jazz were there.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Mum lifted her nose up at Jazz, but it was so obvious that was exactly what she was thinking.
Dom was shaking, barely able to hold back his laughter. It was a lot easier for him; he didn’t have to carry the family name around like a brand on his skin. But something else we discussed was how to keep his sisters safe from the media.
“It’s Harry’s choice! He doesn’t have to come out with an image campaign just because you want to get one up on Lydia fucking Deveroux!”
Though Dom had slightly uprooted my choice by bringing it up while we were still hungry. Yet again the cooks had to awkwardly hold back the food until the argument ended.
“Jasmine, you are being incredibly rude,” Mum said, as if Jazz was at fault.
“I’m being rude!?I’mbeing fucking rude, Mum? You never even gave me a chance to figure out who I was before you were parading me around like some golden child. My first girlfriend dumped me because you were so fucking up yourself you didn’t see that maybe - just maybe - I wanted to be left alone!”
At least the attention was being deflected from us. But Tammie and Janie were already looking uncomfortable, and we needed to stop Jazz before she rattled them too much.
“I thought you weren't going to make it about yourself.” Mum raised a sculpted eyebrow, looking down at her.
I was about to step in and say something, possibly move Jazz away from the twins, but she jumped up from the table.
“Fucking hell,” Jazz muttered. She turned to both of us and lifted her glass. “Congratulations, you guys. I’m so happy for you. Unlike some people.” She threw a scathing glare at Mumbefore tossing back the rest of her gin, the glass clinking as she brought it back down to the table with a thud. “Welcome to the family, Dom. I’d get out while you still can,” she said before storming out of the room.
Dom and I quickly checked on his sisters. Not just because of the shouting, but alcohol and loud bangs also still affected them, even though I hoped they knew they were safe around us.
But Cat had already scooted over, murmuring to them, making them chuckle with a sarcastic comment or two.
“Really, the cheek of that girl. I can’t believe I raised her.” Mum scowled as she sat back down.
Though ‘raised’ might be pushing it, since they’d been arguing like this for as long as I could remember.
I looked up at Dom. “I’m sorry about that. I thought it would go better.”
“No, no. This is perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted.” He grinned.
“How could you want this?”