Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

Tonight’s subject is New Year’s. Feel free to discuss.”

His scheming sweetheart looked positively perturbed.

“Hey,” he said unapologetically, “you mentioned hardheaded and obnoxious. Thought I’d live up to my reputation.” He refilled his own wineglass and sat down heavily.

He was a lot drunker than I realized. Wren and Christy were too, for that matter, while I was still nursing only my second glass.

The silence stretched out uncomfortably.

“Oh, gimme a break,” Trip told Wren. “Paul isn’t dumb. He knows it’s a setup.

But this time it’s out in the open. ’Sides,” he took a sip of wine, “I told

’im about it earlier.”

“Told him,” he said mulishly. “Didn’t think it was fair for you to steamroll him like that.”

“I think the trip is a great idea,” Christy said out of the blue.

I looked at her in confusion.

“What?” she said. “I love skiing. And Squaw Valley’s beautiful.”

“Hold that thought,” I told her quickly. Wren was already drawing breath for an angry jab at Trip. I sat forward and interjected myself before the situation turned ugly.

“Stop, Wren. Think about what you’re going to say. I guarantee it isn’t worth it.” I turned to Trip. “She thinks you’re a wonderful guy.”

“’S not what she said,” he grumbled.

“But it’s what she really thinks.” I turned to her. “Isn’t it?”

She glared. I didn’t flinch, so she turned it up a notch.

Her glare sprouted daggers.

I calmly ignored them. “Have you?”

“Wren! Pay very close attention to me. If you say whatever it is you’re thinking, you know how it’ll go.

Trip’s pretty easygoing, but he isn’t a pushover.”

“Damn straight,” he said under his breath.

“And you have to admit,” I told her in a softer tone, “you weren’t very nice a minute ago.”

Christy silently shook her head.

Wren looked truculent but didn’t argue.

telling you she doesn’t love you anymore and leaving with another guy?”

He jerked upright. His high school girlfriend had broken his heart when she’d done just that.

“Yeah, I remember,” I said.

“So… lemme ask you again: is starting a conversation really that bad?”

“No, I guess not,” he said after a moment. “But that was a really low blow, man.”

“You’re right. But it made you stop and think, didn’t it?”

“Uh-huh. And maybe for all her scheming, Wren’s the best thing that ever happened to you. Right?”

“Besides,” I added, “her scheming is because she wants her friends to be happy. I can think of a lot worse offenses than that.”

“Yeah, you’re right.