Before he could stop her, or say anything else again, she gave him a tight smile and left to huddle with Jasper.
At one end of the table, the Spoke’n Four were talking quietly. At the other, Andy Presser and Morgan Mackenzie sat, their heads bent together, so close they were almost touching. Carol Landon was talking to Morgan; Richard Landon was talking to Dale Presser, and Kayla was telling Ezra that even though they were on vacation, he had to eat something green, and no, olives didn’t count.
Abby was laughing at something Jasper had said. She looked so unselfconscious, so happy and relaxed. He felt a tug in his chest and rubbed it. Annoyed, he realized that Abby was smiling at someone who wasn’t him. Was it just that he’d never cared about being rejected? A lack of other women, upon whom he could turn his focus, and maybe make Abby jealous?
“Heartburn?” Eileen asked him, taking the seat opposite her daughter.
“Maybe.” Your daughter is going to be the death of me, Sebastian thought.
Eileen gave him her thin-lipped smile. Most of the riders, per Breakaway’s instructions, had packed just a few off-the-bike outfits: a pair of pants or shorts and a few tee shirts. Eileen, though, had debuted a brand-new outfit every night, including shoes and accessories. That evening, she wore a sleeveless orange dress, with matching sandals and a straw handbag.
Abby, on the other hand, had stuck to the rules, and had come to dinner every night in cropped cargo pants and a tee shirt, with Keens on her feet and her curly hair in a loose bun. No accessories but the small, sparkly earrings she’d worn every day; no nail polish or makeup… but she must have packed perfume, Sebastian thought, taking a discreet but appreciative sniff when Abby took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
Sebastian leaned over to refill her water glass. Abby murmured her thanks.
“So you and Lincoln are roommates?” Eileen asked. She was on Sebastian’s left side, Lincoln was on his right.
“Housemates,” Sebastian said. “We were roommates freshman year of college, and we’ve lived together ever since.”
Eileen looked puzzled. “Lincoln, I thought you were married?”
“That’s right,” Lincoln said.
“So you’re…” Eileen frowned.
Abby was grinning. “Just say it, Mom,” she urged Eileen. “Spit it out.”
“Polyamorous?” Eileen said. “Or do people just say poly?”
For a moment, Sebastian had no idea what she was talking about. Lincoln figured it out first. “Oh, no, no. We’re not romantically involved. Just roommates.”
“I rent the garden apartment on the first floor of the house Lincoln and Lana own,” said Sebastian.
“Oh, well. That makes much more sense,” Eileen said.
“But it’s a lot less interesting,” Abby said. “I’ve never met a throuple.”
“Who’s a throuple?” Ted boomed. Sue stood on her tiptoes and spoke into his ear. Ted shook his head, looking disappointed.
“Well,” said Eileen. “It’s wonderful that you’ve stayed connected, all those years.” She nibbled at a shred of carrot from her salad.
Sebastian turned to Abby. “Have you tried the falafel?”
“Not yet,” Abby said. Sebastian passed her the platter. Abby speared a ball of fried chickpeas and popped it in her mouth. It crunched as she chewed. She glanced at her mother, who picked up the salad, brandishing the bowl at Abby with a tight-lipped smile. Abby shook her head. Eileen set the bowl down.
“How many miles did we ride today?” Eileen asked.
Abby swallowed and patted her lips. “Sixty-one,” she said, and held up a hand preemptively. “Do not ask me how many calories that burned. I have no idea.”
Eileen looked hurt. “I wasn’t going to ask that,” she said.
“You were thinking it,” Abby said. She was, Sebastian thought, trying to sound teasing, but he heard an edge in her voice. “I know your how-many-calories-did-it-burn face.”
“Oh, Abby!” Eileen said. “You’re such a comedian!”
“Bet,” Abby said flatly. “I’m hilarious.” She scooped hummus up with a wedge of pita. Eileen sat for a moment, before quietly excusing herself and finding an empty seat near Lily at the other end of the table.
Sebastian saw Abby’s shoulders slump.
“Hey,” said Sebastian, a little more sharply than he’d meant to. Abby looked up. “You should take it easy on her.”