I looked right at Diane and said, “Before we order anything, we should probably clear something up.”
That got quiet fast.
Karen laughed a little. “Uh oh. Speech time.”
“No,” I said. “Just honesty for once.”
I folded my menu closed and pushed it toward the center of the table.
“I’m not paying for everybody tonight.”
Nobody spoke for a second after that. You could actually hear dishes clattering from the kitchen.
Diane’s smile froze halfway on her face. “Wow. Okay.”
“I’ve covered birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, random Tuesdays because somebody wanted margaritas. Half the time you all order like you hit the lottery because you already know I’ll get trapped with the bill.”
Karen immediately pulled the wounded act. “Nobody trapped you.”
“Really? Then why does everybody suddenly lose their wallet every single dinner?”
My younger sister stared down at her drink so hard I already knew she’d done exactly that again tonight.
Diane crossed her arms. “You’re making this weird over money.”
“No,” I said. “You made it weird years ago when complimenting me became code for handing me the check.”
The waiter walked up right then asking if we were ready to order and nobody answered him. Poor guy looked like he wanted to disappear.
Then Karen muttered, “You know, family helps family.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
“Family also says thank you occasionally.”
That one landed hard.
Dinner after that was awkward as hell. Suddenly nobody wanted lobster. Diane actually asked about prices for the first time in her life. Karen ordered water.
And when the check finally came, everybody just sat there staring at it.
I paid for my steak and my iced tea.
Nothing else.
Three of them had to start sending each other Venmos right there at the table while Diane whispered that her card was “close to maxed until Friday.”
Honestly?
Best steak I ever ate.