"Is that a yes or a no?" I ask deflecting.
"Of course it's a yes! Addie will be thrilled. She's been dying to hit the slopes." I can hear the smile in her voice. "So, tell me about this Charlie woman who's captured your attention. What's she like?"
"Well she's my coworker," I say, feeling oddly nervous. "She's... important to me."
"And how long has Charlie been important to you?"
"Again, it's complicated," I hedge, knowing she will see right through me the moment she meets Charlie and me together. My sister has an uncanny ability to read people, especially me.
"Complicated usually means interesting," she muses. "Do her parents own the place you're staying at?"
"Yeah, it's their vacation home. There's plenty of room, though. And her family's great—you'll like them."
"So not only are you introducing me to this woman, but her entire family too? This is serious."
"Don't make a big deal out of it," I warn, though I can feel heat creeping up my neck..
"When my perpetually single brother suddenly wants me to meet a woman he's calling 'important' and claiming it's 'complicated',' it's already a big deal," She points out. "But don't worry, I'll behave."
"And make sure Addie does too, please."
She laughs. "You know I have zero control over what comes out of that girl's mouth. She's sixteen, filter not included."
"Great," I mutter, though I can't help smiling. Addie's bluntness might actually be refreshing in this situation.
"We'll head out after Addie gets out of school and I'm off work," she says. "Text me the address. And Bash?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really looking forward to meeting Charlie and also seeing you."
The sincerity in her voice makes my chest tighten. "Me too."
I end the call and sit back in the patio chair, watching the mountains glow brighter as the sun climbs higher. What am I doing? Inviting my sister and niece here makes this feel even more real—which is exactly what I want right? But at the same it’s also terrifying. Charlie and I haven't even defined what we are to each other yet, we're just "fake-dating."
The sliding glass door opens behind me, and I turn to see Charlie standing there. Her hair is adorably mussed from sleep, and she's wearing flannel pajama pants with the ends tucked into her snow boots and a Colorado State sweatshirt.
"Hey," she says, her voice still husky from sleep. "Thought I heard voices."
"Just on the phone," I say. " And good morning."
"Morning." She pulls her sleeves over her hands, crossing her arms across her chest against the chill. "You're up early."
"Old habit. I enjoy watching the sunrise." I lift my coffee mug. "Want some? I can grab you a cup."
She shakes her head, stifling a yawn. "I'll make some inside in a minute." She looks at me curiously. "Who were you talking to?"
"My sister, Sarah. And Tyler before that."
"At this hour? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine." I stand up, still wrapped in the blanket. "Actually, I just invited Sarah and my niece Addie to come visit. They're only about an hour away."
Her eyebrows shoot up. "Oh! That's nice. And yeah, when are they coming?"
"Today, if that's okay? I'm sorry, I should have asked you first—it's your family's house."
"No, it's fine," she says quickly. "There's plenty of room. I just didn't realize you wanted your family around for our...situation."
