Everyone remained quiet as the man serving the food came around three more times with roasted asparagus, rice pilaf and a stuffed date. For all the trouble that the cooks went through to make the food, it wasn't going to be that satisfying.

Clarke looked over at Vince sympathetically, thinking he was sure to be pushing the food around on his plate with a sour look on his face. But instead, she saw him digging in the minute everyone had been served, downing the food in record time. She wasn't sure if he did it to be respectful as fast as possible so he couldn't taste anything or if he was actually enjoying it.

"You know you don't have to take this that far, right?" she told him, leaning in to whisper into his left ear.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, shooting her a look as her leg began to bounce again. He squeezed her knee harder, forcing it to be still again. She was sure he was leaving fingerprints in her skin, but she also needed his support. "This stuff is great. Food can be such an adventure!" he whispered excitedly back to her. Before she had a chance to comment, her mother spoke up.

"What are you two love birds whispering about over there?" Mrs. Bennett asked with that underlying hint of hatred and annoyance that only Clarke's ears were tuned into.

"Vince was just singing the praises of the food, that's all," Clarke answered, trying to keep it together. Her mother was starting to poke at their armor, and she knew the worst part was coming.

"Oh, is that so?" her mother asked with wide eyes. Clarke was sure she could see the wheels turning as her own mother tried to think of ways to use that against her. "Well, at least your date has good taste, even if you don't." Mrs. Bennett let out a cackle after she said it, like that would suddenly make the thinly veiled insult better if it seemed like a joke to her.

The Colemans laughed politely and dabbed at their faces as Clarke felt eyes on her from several people at the table.

"It's so nice to see you again," Mrs. Coleman said in hopes of changing the subject. "And with a man by your side." Clarke tried not to roll her eyes or do anything rash. Vince somehow sensed that she might have a problem and moved his hand from her leg to her arm, rubbing it up and down in a comforting way. Husbands were nothing more than status symbols in her mother's world. Clarke wasn't single because no one wanted her; she was single for so long because she didn't want them. She wanted to be successful without emotions and other commitments getting in the way and causing messes that couldn't be cleaned. Plus, why weren't they on her mother's case for being single?




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