The First Taste(34)

I tuck in the shirt and do up my pants. Sadie probably worries I’ll show up looking like a slob since I don’t care about these things. But the suit I have from her wedding still fits perfectly, and I have a reason to look good tonight.

I open a drawer with ties. For owning only two suits, I have way too many ties, all less than subtle hints from Sadie to dress up more. I pick up a drab gray one, but a flash of red at the back of the drawer catches my eye. I wore that tie last year when I took Bell into the city for a show around Christmastime.

Sadie mentioned that avec was nominated. If I know Amelia, which I don’t, not really, she’ll be dressed to the nines. That must’ve been the reason for the expensive cherry-colored dress we picked up from the front desk of her apartment building. I select the red tie. It’ll be a message from me to her, a way of both teasing her and showing her I’ve been thinking of her.

I come out of the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror to get the knot right. “What d’you think, kid? Does Dad look good or what?”

“I don’t want you to go,” Bell says immediately.

I glance at her. “I know. I don’t really want to go either, but—”

“Then don’t,” she says. “Stay home. We can watch a show about cars.”

I chuckle and think, not for the first time, manipulation must be genetic. In that way, she’s her mother’s daughter. “I can’t. Aunt Sadie’s expecting me.”

Bell crosses her arms, pouting. “Parties are stupid.”

“Come on. We don’t use that word.”

“Stupid,” she repeats.

“Bell,” I warn. “You want to go to your room until I leave?”

“No. I want to stay with you.” She sticks her bottom lip out farther. “If I’m good, will you not go?”

“No.” I tug on my sleeve and head into the bedroom to get cufflinks from a drawer. Sensing Bell’s glare, even through the wall separating the rooms, I ask, “Will you help me? I can’t do this alone.”

With a huge sigh, she pads over. I lift her up on the edge of the bed and hold the sleeve together for her. “Just put the small part of the cufflink through the holes so it holds the cuff together.”

She furrows her eyebrows as she works. “Can I come with you?”

I press my lips together, half pissed that she won’t drop it and half devastated. That Bell thinks I’m abandoning her, even for tonight, makes my chest physically hurt. I’m starting to wonder if others have been right about us. If she’s too attached. Problem is, she learned it from me. Part of me would rather stay here, dish out ice cream, and play Mario Kart. I’m looking forward to seeing Amelia, but is it worth making my girl feel like this?

Bell’s finishing the other cufflink when the doorbell rings. She jumps down and sprints out of the bedroom.

“Stop right there,” I call after her. “Don’t you dare open that door.”

“But it’s Flora,” she cries from the living room.

“I don’t care. How many goddamn times have I told you—do not open the door by yourself at night.”

“But it’s Flora.”

“You don’t know that.” I rush into the room after her. “It could be a stranger.”

She’s hanging on the door handle, her eyes watery, as if she’s waited her whole life to answer that door and I’ve taken it away from her.

“Now that I’m in the room with you, you can open it,” I say.

She does. Flora’s there, smiling warmly. “Why, hello, Bell,” she says, stepping in. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”

Bell looks back at me, suddenly shy for all her bravado.

“Say hello,” I tell her firmly. “Mrs. Picolli was nice enough to come over and spend her evening with you.”

“It’s no trouble,” Flora says.

“Come in.” I hold the door as Bell glowers and then slinks away.

Pico ambles up the sidewalk, his motorcycle parked in the driveway.

“Give ol’ mom a ride on the scooter or what?” I ask.

“No, dumbass. She drove herself.”

Pico may work for me now, but I’ve been busting his balls since before we were teenagers. His dad, Flora’s late husband, worked for my grandpa.

I slap him on the back. “Do me favor and see if you can distract Bell. She’s in one of her moods.”

“I’m on it.” He pulls a deck of cards from his back pocket. “Learned some new magic tricks recently.”

Thank God for his geeky side. It might actually save us tonight.

“Thanks for doing this,” I tell Flora as Pico goes to find Bell. “I’m sorry about her. She doesn’t want me to go.”

Flora takes off her cardigan, and I hang it up for her. “She’ll get over it.”

“Just when I think she’s maturing at light speed, she pulls this crap. I think it’s getting worse.” I rub my eyebrow. “Maybe I shouldn’t go. She’s going to cop an attitude with you.”

“That’s exactly why you should. Believe me, dear, I have five children. I can handle her.” Flora eyes my suit. “You look handsome, by the way. Please tell me you have a date to this party.”