Page 74 of Hate On
The woman flashed her an understanding smile and moved on into the main cabin.
Julianna waited a moment longer, then followed her, just as the drinks were passed out.
She watched as Roman tipped his glass toward Charles in a silent toast.
“Are we drinking to something in particular? Why was I left out?”
“Nothing in particular, sweetie,” her father said, smiling indulgently at her. “Roman just mentioned how his mother ran into yours at the spa a couple of weeks ago.”
“Oh, man.” Julianna rolled her eyes. “You should have seen the way some of the attendants there acted. You would have thought they were going to have a catfight the way people were cowering. But Mom and Ava just looked at each other for what felt like an hour, then they gave each other one of those air kisses and decided to meet in the spa’s bar for a drink so they couldcatch up.” She made quotes in the air with her fingers. “Naturally, I wasn’t invited. Mom told me to enjoy my pedicure.”
Roman laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Julianna asked, although she expected she knew what had him so amused.
“My mother, getting into a catfight,” he replied, shaking his head.
“Janice is more likely to get into a fight than your mother,” Charles said, chuckling a bit himself. “She’s got a fiery temper. It takes a bit to get her going, but once she’s worked up…” He sighed and smiled.
Roman eyed him narrowly.
“He’s right,” Julianna said, drawing his attention to her. She grinned at him and shrugged. “Mom once threw a shoe at Dad’s head during an argument.”
“A shoe?”
Charles laughed. “She did. I can’t believe you remember that. You were…mercy, you must have only been five years old!”
“I remember it, though! It hit you, too!” She laughed, reaching for her glass of wine and lifting it to her lips. After taking a sip, she put it down and laced her fingers in her lap. Without thinking about it, she started to turn the ring on her finger.
Feeling Roman’s eyes on her, she glanced up and saw him watching her.
She looked down at the engagement ring on her hand, then looked up at him, smiling.
“You and your brothers are doing well enough, it seems,” Charles said, his astute gaze resting on Roman once more.
Julianna groaned. “Daddy, please stop. You’re turning into a mother hen.”
Roman waved it off. “We’re fine, Charles. I think you rather impressed them the night you had the cookout.”
Charles pretended to buff his nails. “I do enjoy taking a turn behind the barbecue from time to time.”
Julianna had been surprised that the other two Montrose brothers had accepted the invitation to the cookout they’d had a few weeks ago.
“It wasn’t just the barbecue.” Roman grinned. “You and I kicked their asses at basketball.”
Julianna snorted. “Sometimes I think he’s found the fountain of youth. He kicksmyass when we play.”
“Which isn’t very often anymore.” Her father scowled at her.
“I’m tired of you kicking my ass.” She gave him an affronted glare and he laughed.
“Next time, maybe we can rope your sister or brother into joining us and we can have a real family feud,” Charles said, his eyes lighting up. “The Montroses versus the Castles. Winner take all.”
“Then we’d better get Sarah,” Julianna said with a sigh.
Her father covered her hand with his. “He’ll come around, sweetie. All things in time.”
Julianna wanted to believe that, but time didn’t seem to be fixing the scar between Roman and his father. Time hadn’t helped fix whatever it was that had her brother Joseph on a one-way path to destruction. She didn’t know if time wasgoingto help at this point.