Page 207 of Silver Sweet

“They’re just protective of Tom,” I say. “I get it.”

“As a big brother?”

“Yeah. As a big brother.”

While the three of us wait for food, we bring the wine, a plate of cheese, and Club crackers to the couch.

Joana folds her feet under her ass on the couch cushion, and we start talking about the Cobalts’ secretive Wednesday Night Dinners. “I bet it’s just like any other run-of-the-mill family dinner,” Joana says. “They just love having something no one else is invited to.”

I wash down a cube of gouda. “Tom gets so upset when I call it a tea party that I think it must be just that. A fucking tea party.”

“I used to think animal sacrifice,” Harriet says. “But there’s no way they’d kill a goat in front of Ben. He’d neverattend.”

Joana pops a grape in her mouth and motions a finger at me and Harriet. “We really should have you two checked out for brain lesions.”

I fill up my empty glass of wine. “Why?”

“You’re dating aCobalt. You have to be a little…” She see-saws her hand. “They’re self-centered, cocky, talentless assholes.”

“Wow, which one fucked you up?”

Joana and Harriet share an indecipherable look. I’m more rigid, and I work my jaw. I’m just hoping it’s not Eliot. He’s the major playboy, and I could see him sleeping with a girl down the hall and causing messy fucking feelings.

I like Eliot, though, and that’s Tom’s closest brother.

“None,never,” Joana finally decrees. “This cannot turn into a Cobalt fan club, okay?” She waves her wine around at us.

My brows spring. “I meantfucked upas in you had a bad experience with them. But now I’m thinking you like one of them.”

“No, no, no, no, no,” she says so fast, hands in the air with her wine, crashing backward. “I am lesion-free.That is your ordeal. No Cobalt can infect me. I’m immune.”

I don’t believe her. “Is it Eliot?”

“Ew, no.”

“Charlie?” I ask.

She gags.

“Beckett?”

She lets out a long, long laugh. “No. Absolutelyno feelings.Other than victory of knowing I don’t have to wake up to his smug face or hear his grating, obnoxious voice.”

I’d never describe Beckett’s voice asgrating. His smooth tone is something you’d listen to while you were meditating.

“He picks on her,” Harriet adds. Context is super helpful.Thank you, Harriet.

“He’s flirting with you,” I gather.

“He can keep trying all he wants,” Joana says. “He’ll never catch me. I will be the girl tormenting his fantasies until he’s old and gray and withering in a tomb.” She cackles and high-fives Harriet.

I nod. “I respect the commitment.”

Joana places her wine down, then rises. “You know what? Why wait to cause a little chaos until the Cobalts are in their grave?” Her eyes sparkle wickedly at Harriet. “I bought the silly string.”

“Now?” Harriet asks, eyes wide.

“Why not?” Joana spins to me. “You coming along, Phoenix St. Pierre? Let’s prank the infamous, untouchable Cobalt brothers.”