I wanted to wallow.
How was it fair that the one guy who'd rejected me when I was in high school now thought I was a lying prostitute? Forget feeling insecure — now all I felt was shame.
"How much does she charge?" Brett asked calmly as he placed a napkin on his lap.
"Excuse me?" I seethed, reaching for a knife to stab him.
"For your services." Brett grinned smugly. "Not that I'm interested, since I really am happily engaged. Besides, I'm not a fan of disease."
Paris pulled out a nail file and began filing like the world was about to end if she didn't get rid of her chip and a hangnail.
I sighed. "Your definition of happy and mine are two very different things."
"You couldn't afford her," Jace snarled.
Okay, so not the rescue I was hoping for, but it worked.
"I've got money." Brett rolled his eyes. "And I wouldn't want her anyway."
"That's it." Jace stood and grabbed Brett by the collar. "Beth, we'll be right back. Brett and I are going to go have a little heart to heart and grab a few drinks, okay?"
"Sure." My hands trembled as they reached for the water glass.
"Welcome to Blu Hibachi!" A female voice all but shouted.
I looked up in horror.
There stood Grandma, giant-ass knife in hand, a black pantsuit, and a leopard scarf tied around her head.
"Should you…" I pointed, "have knives?" Or anything that could cause physical harm to herself or anyone standing within a foot of her?
"Of course." She threw the knife into the air. I almost passed out until she caught it with her other hand and winked. "I studied for years to learn the art of the Hibachi." She said Hibachi with way more emphasis on chi than I think the Japanese would say was appropriate. "Where's Jace?"
"Having a conversation." I sighed.
"With his fist," Paris interjected.
Oh wow, so airhead could speak. Nice.
"Fist?" Grandma began stacking vegetables and types of meats on the h
ot grill. The minute she threw oil on the heat, I was hit with a cloud of heat that should have singed eyebrows. "He's fighting someone?"
"Her fiancé." I pointed at Paris. "An old… friend."
"Please." Paris snorted. "He said you were like the nerdiest girl at his school, doubt that makes you friends."
I wasn't sure if I wanted to grab Grandma's knife and stab it into myself or just Paris.
She giggled.
Just kidding.
Paris. I wanted to stab Paris.
"You let Grandma handle these things." Grandma threw another knife into the air. "After all, this is your vacation, Beth, and you only have few days left."
"Of vacation." I finished.