Jay Leaves

Jay’s face went through several stages of horror in under five seconds.

“Absolutely not. No. I am not standing here while my daughter and… and whatever the hell this is - ” He pointed a finger around the room like it was a crime scene. “Gloria. We’re leaving. Now.”

Gloria didn’t move. She set the tres leches cake on the coffee table with deliberate calm, smoothed her dress, and looked at her husband with that particular mix of affection and steel that always meant she had already decided.

“You go, mi amor,” she said sweetly. “Take the car. I am staying.”

Jay stared at her. “You’re what?”

“I am staying.” Gloria’s smile was pure trouble. “The children are gone. The night is young. And these two clearly started something they did not finish properly.” She glanced at Claire’s still-flushed cheeks and the obvious dampness on her thigh, then at the strained front of Phil’s jeans. “I think they need help finishing it.”

Jay made a sound like a dying engine. He looked at Mitchell for support. Mitchell only shook his head rapidly, hands still over his face. Cam, on the other hand, was vibrating with barely contained glee.

Jay pointed at Gloria one last time. “I am going home. I am pouring a very large glass of scotch. And I am pretending none of this ever happened.” He turned on his heel, muttered something about needing bleach for his brain, and walked out the door. A moment later the car started and headlights swept away down the street.

Silence settled for half a beat.

Then Gloria turned back to the remaining group, eyes bright. She stepped closer to Phil and Claire, close enough that Claire could smell her perfume.

“Well,” Gloria said, voice low and warm. “Now that the grumpy old man is gone… who wants to continue?”

She reached out and casually hooked one finger in the open collar of Phil’s shirt, tugging him half a step forward. Her other hand brushed Claire’s hip, fingers tracing the waistband of the skirt that still hadn’t been fixed properly.

Cam clapped his hands once, delighted. “I knew tonight was going to be special.”

Mitchell made a weak protesting noise but didn’t actually leave.

Gloria’s gaze flicked between Phil and Claire, waiting.