Nico’s happy expression drops and he runs his tongue over his teeth. “Damn it.”
“She’s taking ballet with Isabelle?” Luca asks.
Grace nods, curling into Christian as Julian says, “Isa offered us discounted classes.”
“Isabelle’s great with kids.”
“That and Grace got excited about the tutu.”
“Tutu!” Grace yells. “Daddy does my hair and it makes me look like a pretty ballerina.”
“That’s because youarea pretty ballerina, baby,” Julian says and kisses his daughter’s head.
“Gracie! Sweetie!” Isabelle calls out and Grace’s head snaps in their direction. “Come show us your new ballet moves, honey.”
Grace gasps and squirms out of Christian’s hold until he sets her down, and she runs away. “Gots to go!”
I laugh with the guys, watching her little legs try to keep up with her energy. “Be careful! You’ll fall!” Julian shouts after her, his voice softer than the way he speaks to anyone who isn’t Grace. “Grace, please!”
But that little girl doesn’t have a care in the world. She is always moving in her own world, on a mission.
“So, you and Natalia,” Christian says.
My eyes roll. “Stop.”
“It’s nice.” He shrugs. “You’ve always liked her.”
“That’s what I said!” Luca screams for no reason at all.
Each of us grimace, and Nico pats Luca’s shoulder. It seems we’ve all caught on to his drunken behavior except everyone else, and I’m glad for it. He can’t be around Christian right now. “I think it’s time to get you some water.”
“He needs to go,” I mutter.
“It’s Friendsgiving, Luca,” Julian mutters and shakes his head. Luca flips him off and follows Nico inside the kitchen for water.
“Do you guys think she’s okay?” I ask.
“Who?”
“Natalia.”
Christian raises his brows. “I can’t tell you that.”
“That isn’t fair,” I mutter. “Lana tells you everything.”
“To be fair,” Christian says, a smug smirk growing on his face, “theytell me everything. I’m in their clique. I’m one of the cool kids.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Julian grumbles.
I snort. “But can you at least tell me what you think?”
I glance over to the girls, where Grace is twirling with her arms curved over her head. Isabelle is instructing her, helping her out with some moves and cheering her on with Lana andNatalia, who are taking pictures and videos. But Natalia’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes and it breaks my heart because I know damn well she loves that little girl.
“Ask,” Julian says.
“Yeah. One sec.” I toss my empty bottle in the recycling bin on my way to the large sofa. I lean forward and Natalia’s head turns to see me just in time. “Can I talk to you?”
Natalia nods and tells the girls she’ll just be a second. I lead us toward the foyer of the house and tower over her smaller frame. “What happened?”
