Page 96 of A Taste of Vanilla

“You didn’t know what?” Her voice is sharp.

I open my eyes.

She looks at Warren before looking at me.

Oliver chooses this exact moment to appear in the doorway between Saints & Sinners and Bitter Bloom carrying a tray of clean bar towels.

He stops dead.

Looks at Warren. Then Marley. Then me. Then Warren again.

His face is blank. “No,” he says.

Marley points at him. “You knew?”

Oliver looks at me, his eyes lingering before moving to Warren. I wince.

He looks back to Marley.

“I knew she left with someone.”

“With my brother?” she demands.

His mouth flattens. “No. I only knew him as the man making bad choices. I was not aware everyone had collectively decided introductions were completely optional.”

“I didn’t know his name,” I say with a frown.

Warren looks at me.

“I thought you said your name was Elizabeth at one point.”

“That’s her middle name,” Marley deadpans. She turns to me. “You gave him your middle name?” She turns to her brother without giving me time to respond. “You didn’t ask for her last name?”

“No.”

“You slept with a woman whose name you didn’t know?”

His jaw tightens.

“For one, I’m not the problem,” Oliver says as he sets the towels down on the counter.

“Do not enjoy this.” Marley holds one finger out without looking at him.

“I’m trying not to.”

I take a step and immediately regret it. “Marley, I swear to God, I didn’t know. He was just the man from the bar. I didn’t want to know his name. I didn’t press it. It was only supposed to be something fun for one night. A very anonymous, very adult, very irresponsible night that absolutely did not involve your family tree.”

Warren’s mouth tightens.

Oliver stares at the ceiling.

And Marley looks like she’s been struck by every emotion available to humankind and is considering creating a few new ones.

Her eyes narrow.

“Wait.”

“No,” I say, my heart rate skyrocketing.