Chapter 30: Pacific Palisades
The following morning, Penny had already gone to the hotel to prepare for the trip back home.
I went to have breakfast, still wearing my bathrobe.
"Looks like I wasn't the only one who had a good night's sleep," Charlie said, raising his coffee cup. He was also wearing a black bathrobe.
"You two are degenerates," Alan snorted.
"Now I can proudly say that my son has definitely slept with more women than you," Charlie mocked.
"From what I know of Uncle Alan's ex-wife, I'd say I've gotten laid more times too," I added.
Alan snorted again but grew thoughtful, and by the look on his face, he was actually considering whether it was true.
"Don't roast poor Alan," Berta chimed in. "He's the only one who doesn't give me trouble in that department."
"Thank you, Berta," Alan said deadpan.
"I'm heading back to Brentwood; tomorrow I'll go straight to Pacific Palisades," the place where Evelyn lives.
I chatted a bit longer and then headed to my uncle's house
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The next day, I parked the car and placed my sunglasses in the glove compartment. That's when I noticed the pack of cigarettes Alex had left there. I picked it up and slipped it into my pocket - planning to throw it away later.
As I approached the entrance, I saw Dad, Alan, and Jake already at the door, talking to Evelyn.
"Hi, Grandma," Jake greeted.
"And look, you brought Jake to meet my new beau," Evelyn said, glancing between them. "Come here, sweetheart." She crouched down to Jake's level "Tonight, you and I are going to play a game."
"What kind of game?" Jake asked.
"It's a fun one, honey. It only has one rule -you have to call me Evelyn," she explained.
"Okay," Jake agreed.
"Oh, look, Francis," she turned to me. "At least someone has the decency to bring wine." Her eyes went to the bottle in my hand.
"You bought wine?" Dad looked at me strangely
"Thought it was normal courtesy," I replied. Claire always brings one, but she's usually also the one who drinks it.
We entered my grandmother's house - an elegant and luxurious place
"Tommy, darling, I'd like you to meet my sons," Evelyn introduced Charlie and Alan, who shook the man's hand. "And this is Jake and Francis," she finished.
"Yes, I am, Evelyn," Jake turned to his grandmother.
"Let's not beat it to death, okay?" Evelyn murmured.
I stifled a laugh and shook Tommy's hand. "Francis," I introduced myself.
Jake reminded me so much of Luke.
Then a stunning brunette walked in. "There you are. Gentlemen, this is Tommy's daughter, Olivia," Evelyn introduced.
"Hello, Charlie," Olivia greeted smoothly.
"Hi, stranger," Charlie replied with an awkward smile.
"Do you two know each other?" Tommy inquired, puzzled.
"I thought I did," Olivia answered coolly.
"Oh, no," Evelyn exhaled
Judging by their faces, you didn't need to be a genius to guess what had gone down between them
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After the fiasco that was dad's meeting with his former lover, I decided to head out and take a walk under the night sky (leaving Alan to take care of grandmother).
I glanced at the cigarette in my pocket.
"Lucky Strike... not really my taste," I murmured. "But well, I'll give it another try."
I wasn't a smoker in my previous life, and I don't plan to become one in this one. But every now and then, in isolation, the statistical increase in health risks is practically negligible.
Since I didn't have a lighter, I had to improvise. I took the battery out of my phone and pulled out a cheap earring from my pocket (it belonged to Penny). I unfolded the earring.
"Who are you?" I heard a feminine voice ask.
"Whoever you want me to be," I blurted out one of dad's pick-up lines while connecting the wires-what was once an earring - to the ends of the battery, using a small piece of paper from the pack in the middle of the wire. It sparked, catching fire just enough to light the cigarette.
I heard a melodic laugh as I finally lifted my head toward the girl who had spoken.
"Huh."
Not bad, I thought.
"That's a different way to light a cigarette," the girl smiled. "Marissa Cooper," she introduced herself.
"Jake Pritchett," I replied.
"Can I have one?" she gestured toward the cigarette
"Sure," I lifted the pack for her to take one, but warned, "in a cigarette there are over seven thousand substances in it, two hundred and fifty of which are toxic."
She stopped and looked weirdly at me
"A bargain for five dollars," I added, exhaling a puff of smoke, making her laugh again
I held my cigarette out so she could light hers.
She stepped closer, our eyes met.
"So, what you doing here? Seriously" she asked
"I found my biological dad two weeks ago. I was at dinner with my grandmother, who was introducing her new boyfriend.
It would've gone better if my father hadn't mounted his daughter in the past," I said with a straight face
I could see a mix of shock and awkwardness on Marissa's face before it turned back into a smile again
"Seems like a nice family dinner," she pointed out
Then a pickup truck pulled up with loud music. Marissa got into the car, gave a light kiss to the guy behind the wheel, and waved me goodbye.
"Already taken..." I murmured, watching the car drive away before shrugging.
Another person appeared, coming out of the third house from my grandmother's, also smoking.
"Hey, dude," I waved, and he waved back.
"Ryan!" a second guy called him
He looked and recognized me, his expression not exactly friendly.
"Hey, you're the guy who was sneaking a peek at Haley at the wedding," I confronted him.
"I'm Seth," he introduced himself awkwardly. "I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, glancing around.
"Boy, you should never play poker. And don't worry, she's my cousin. If anything, you should try to be my friend," I revealed, already walking back toward my grandmother's house to leave.
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Marissa Cooper pic
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