Hate Sober (Love Me Duet 2)

“Dear, Ms. Reid has joined us for lunch.” I stop when I see the back of her. Gunner’s grandmother stands there, and she turns slowly to face me. Her smile is also fake, just like she is. I’ve never liked her, but never disrespected her either. She is Gunner’s grandmother, and she should be respected.

“Hi.” I offer a smile, walking over to my parents, kissing both their cheeks before I turn to face her.

She has a hard look on her face while she stares at me. “It’s great to see you, Everly. It’s been too long.”

“It’s great to see you, too.”

She eyes me cautiously before turning back to my father. “Would you mind getting this old lady a drink?” He nods and walks off. My mother soon follows after him to help, leaving me standing here alone with her. “I see you’ve broken a contract?” she questions when we’re by ourselves.

“I did no such thing.” I offer with a smile.

She tisks at me. “You did. You’re getting a divorce, are you not?”

“This is your concern, how exactly?” I ask while raising an eyebrow.

“Little girl, you may have my grandson confused. Hell, I saw the way he looked at you. He’s as blind to you as a bat is during the night.” I open my mouth to speak, but she snaps her fingers to shut me up. “But I see you, and soon he will be over you, and see you for what you are.”

“And what am I?”

She leans in close. “A spoiled little bitch.”

I balk at her words.

She did not just say that to me, did she?

Before I can say another word, my father steps back in holding her drink with no sign of my mother.

“We should eat. The food is ready.” The old bitch—which is what she shall be called from now onwards—smiles and nods her head as if she didn’t just insult me in my own parents’ home. She walks off and my father turns to look at me when I don’t follow.

“Angel, what’s wrong?”

The old bitch turns around, and I offer her a smile.

“Nothing. Everything’s fine.”

He nods, then places his hand on the small of my back as we go in to sit.

Lunch starts being served, and I try my best not to look at her. Making no eye contact with her is the smartest thing I can do right now.

“Don’t you think it’s just silly they’re getting a divorce? They should work it out,” the old bitch says. I don’t look up or pay her any attention. That would be like feeding a dragon—don’t do it.

“I think they have decided what’s best for them,” my father interjects.

I look up at him and smile, it’s nice to have him on my side. Real nice.

“Nakita, tell me… what made you stop in for lunch?” my mother asks as she slices her bread.

“I want to get this mess all sorted out. Gunner visited me yesterday and told me what was happening.” I feel my heart rate increase at his name. “And I just couldn’t sit by idly while something like this happened. You understand, of course?” she says to my mother. “You were arranged. It worked out great for you, so I don’t see why Everly’s being so selfish here.”

The knife in my hand, which was about to cut my bread, freezes. I look up at her to see she’s already watching me.

“They’re adults. What happened between them is their own business,” my father says. I smile at his words, but she doesn’t.

“I’ve been expecting great-grandkids. This marriage is meant to work. Your daughter is selfish,” she spits.

“If you think you can come in here and disrespect my daughter on the one day a week we spend with her, you’re sorely mistaken, Nakita. I suggest you eat and leave. Or, if you can’t keep your mouth shut, you can just leave.”

Holy fucking shit! My mother.

My eyes go wide at her words and I look to my father who’s smiling at her with love clearly bursting in his eyes. My mother goes back to buttering her bread roll as if she didn’t say anything while the old bitch stares at her.

“I can clearly see where she gets her manners from,” she says while shaking her head.

Reaching for my cell, I send Gunner a message. I have his new number from the divorce papers, and I was hoping to have to never use it.

* * *

Your grandmother is here insulting me.

* * *

I don’t need to explain to him where I am, he will know. He always knows. My cell starts ringing before she can open her vile mouth again, and Gunner’s voice sounds through my phone when I answer it.

“Speaker, now, Everly.” I do as he requests.

“It’s on,” I say, looking up at the old bitch as she turns her evil eye to me.