Page 146 of Tell Me I'm Enough

His eyes go wide. “Is that your girlfriend?”

I laugh. “Myfriendwho’s a girl…yes, Ash.”

Simone crouches down immediately, meeting him at eye level like it’s instinct. “Hi. I’m Simone. I’ve seen your cute face a lot over the phone.”

Asher doesn’t hesitate. He throws his arms around her neck like she’s not a stranger to him.

My heart warms as I watch her laugh, surprised but still taking him in with a smile, hands automatically rubbing his back.

“She smells like the ocean and…outside,” Asher announces loudly.

She looks up at me—worried—and I laugh a little.

Simone laughs to cover up her embarrassment. “That’s because your brother dragged me out on the boat today.”

Easton looks up at me accusingly. “You didn’t takemeout on the boat.”

“We’re only here for a day,” I say. “Blame your teachers for keeping you away at school. I’ll try to take you tomorrow before I leave if you’re good, though.”

“Me too!” Asher screams.

Simone stands back up, and Easton acts a little more shy, just waving at her. She smiles and waves back, telling him hi before turning to me and asking where the bathroom is.

“We need to go freshen up,” she whispers.

I let out a little laugh. “Yeah, come on. It’s over here.”

We try to wash the lingering smell off, and I grab one of my old shirts for her to put on after she insists that she can still smell it on her clothes.

When we walk back downstairs, the boys are on the couch with some cartoon playing, wrestling with each other, and getting pretty rowdy.

My stepmom appears in the doorway, placing her purse on one of the chairs. “What is all this noise—oh.”

Her gaze lands on Simone, soft but curious.

“I’m Rose,” she says, smiling warmly. “You must be thefriendMason said he was bringing.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Simone says politely. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

Rose looks between us, then at me, smiling before she turns back to Simone.

“It’s nice to meet you, too. Dinner will be ready shortly. Make yourself at home.”

Dinner is actually pretty nice…at first. Mostly because my dad is running late, so everyone currently at this table is pleasant to be around.

About ten minutes go by, and then the front door opens. My dad walks in, and instantly his gaze sweeps the room, landing on Simone.

“Who’s this?”

I see Simone straighten and hate it. He can make me feel small all he wants, but he won’t be doing that to her. Not tonight, not on my watch.

Before I can say anything, Rose speaks up. “This is Simone. A friend of Mason’s from college.”

He nods and sits down at the head of the table, not even introducing himself to her.

That pisses me off, but what’s new? Everything he does pisses me off. I guess we share that sentiment about each other.

It’s silent for a while after he starts eating. Nobody wants to talk now, and I can feel how uncomfortable everyone in the room feels—even my brothers.