"Of course G's an ass," Sean said with a chuckle. "He likes it that way and he's testing you. I might be my dad's son, but G's the patriarch of the family. My family is more than blood, but it's not strictly choice, not the way I make it sound. There's a lot about them that's hidden underneath what they let everyone else see. It's insane most of the time, but it's what makes them comfortable, keeps them happy and safe. So, I go with it because it is family. Savannah..." Sighing, he rubbed one hand over the top of his head. "I can't explain. Not yet. Not directly. Just...pay attention to the details. If you still care later, when I can talk about it without betraying any of them, it'll make more sense."
Hands in his pockets, he looked at the floor for a moment before making himself look his friend in the eye. "You probably will still want to leave once I've said what I have to say. But, there isn't any reason for a break-up. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Last week, I reacted strangely to the joke. Vance is my dad's boss, even at home, if we get to go back to our old lives. There are things I don't want to talk about, to joke about, especially when I know they're things that will disappoint my dad to hear. That's still a very precarious relationship because it takes time to get past some of the things that went wrong between us.
"That's why I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to tell him about the cake and I didn't want him to think there was something between us when there isn't. But, I was angry, as well, because it didn't seem like you understood or cared why it bugged me. So, I told Dad and Savannah the truth. Robert, too. Although, I'm pretty sure Renko heard everything and from the way he's acting, Dad clearly told G. But, half that room knows. They're playing with you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to play you like this. I just didn't know how else to get through to you."
Taking a breath, he shrugged. "So, yeah, you can leave if you want to now. Wouldn't blame you. And, I need to tell the rest of them it was all a joke. So, you're not the only one that's going to be pissed off at me if it makes you feel any better. Maybe you can still go with Nell to that party and you can get Eliot's cooking since I'm probably gipping you out of Savannah's."