I step closer to her. "I wanted them to meet you. Sarah and Addie are important to me, and so are you."
Her cheeks flush, and she looks down. "Well then I'm looking forward to meeting them." When she looks back up, there's a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Actually, I was coming to tell you I have a surprise for you today."
"A surprise? For me?"
She nods, a smile playing at her lips. "After breakfast. But now it looks like we'll have a busy day, with your sister coming and all."
"We can do both," I assure her. "What's the surprise?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" She backs toward the door. "I'm going to make coffee. Come inside before you freeze."
I follow her into the warm kitchen, draping the blanket over a chair. Charlie maneuvers between counters with the ease, the coffee maker gurgling to life under her touch as she retrieves a mug. I prop myself against the counter, unable to stop myself from watching the way she moves.
"So, what's your sister like?" Her fingers tap against the sugar bowl as she pulls it closer.
"Sarah's great. Three years older, brain like a steel trap, and won't let anyone push her around—especially not her little brother." My lips curl into a nostalgic smile. "Been calling me on my bullshit and cheering me on in equal measure since we had missing baby teeth. And Addie, her daughter..." I shake my head. "Sixteen with the soul of someone twice her age. Too smart for her own good and will tell you exactly what she thinks whether you want to hear it or not."
"They sound great." The refrigerator door swings open as she reaches for the creamer. "Do they know about our...arrangement?"
My words catch. "Not exactly."
Her eyebrow arches upward. "Not exactly?"
"I told Sarah I wanted her to meet someone important to me." I lock my eyes with hers. "I didn't specify the nature of our relationship."
The coffee maker sputters its last drops, filling the loaded silence between us.
"And what is the nature of our relationship?" Her voice barely rises above a whisper, her eyes never wavering from mine.
My pulse thunders in my ears. This moment—the one I've been waiting for. But before I can form the words, footsteps thump down the stairs and Emily's voice cuts through the tension.
"Please tell me that's coffee I smell!"
Charlie steps back, the moment broken. She gives me a small smile that I can't quite interpret, then turns to greet her sister.
"Fresh pot," she confirms. "Mugs are on the counter."
Emily bounces into the kitchen, her energy dialed to eleven despite the early hour. "You're a goddess. Morning, Bash."
"Morning," I reply, trying not to show my frustration at the interruption.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Emily asks, doctoring her coffee with alarming amounts of creamer. "More snowboarding? Shopping in town? Ooh, we could go to the hot springs!"
Charlie glances at me. "Actually, Bash's sister and niece are coming to visit later today."
Emily's eyes widen with interest. "Really? Meeting the family already? This little ploy is getting serious."
I catch Charlie's gaze over Emily's head, seeing the question still lingering there—what is the nature of our relationship?—and I realize I need to answer it, not just for her sister or mine, but for us. For real.
"They live nearby," I explain to Emily. "And I thought it would be nice for them to meet Charlie."
Emily studies me for a moment, then nods approvingly. "Well, I'm looking forward to meeting them too." She sips her coffee, then adds casually, "And don't worry, I won't mention how you two had a one-night—."
Charlie chokes slightly on her coffee. "Emily!"
"What?" Emily looks innocently between us. "I'm just saying I can be discreet. Unlike some people I could mention." She pointedly glances toward the ceiling, presumably referring to their parents upstairs.
"Thank you," Charlie says dryly. "That's very considerate."
