The taps were still running, which meant Gwen was still in the shower. I let out an inaudible breath. “I can do that.”
“Great. See you then.” Russell replied before the line went dead. I set my phone down, a pang of guilt smashing into me.
“Everything okay?” Gwen’s voice startled me, rousing me from my ruminating.
“Yeah,” I turned, catching sight of her on the other side of the counter. Her hair was piled in a topknot, the few strands that had evaded the hair tie were damp and curled around her face. Gwen’s cheeks were flushed, and she watched me while distractedly stroking Tig’s large head. “Hungry?”
“Famished,” Gwen sighed, her dimples flashing as she grinned ruefully at me.
18
Fireworks
Gwen
My father’s annual Canada Day barbeque was always a massive hit, with almost every single one of his employees showing up, as well as a lot of his friends and other work contacts.
A lot of planning went into the annual barbeque, and my mother did most of it. I helped out as much as she’d allow me, but I mostly just showed up for the food, the beer, and the fireworks display my dad would spend thousands on.
Since it was a family-friendly event, Dad would rent a bouncy castle for the kids. He’d done it every year since Kelsey and I were little.
I washed my hands in the bathroom sink, preparing myself to go outside and face the music.
Alaric would be coming if he wasn’t there already, and he’d be bringing his daughter. I had to be on my best behaviour, because not only would my family be in attendance, but his daughter would be too.
He was worried that Cheryl would react negatively to him having a girlfriend, so he planned on waiting until he dropped off Sawyer to tell her—and I wasn’t exactly ready to tell my parents.
I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure how my dad would take the news, and the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize Alaric’s place within the company. I knew my mother would be thrilled to find out I wasn’t going to die a spinster, but I didn’t need her meddling, either.
Eyeing my ensemble, I fussed with the gathered navy blue material of the wrap top, ensuring my cleavage was sitting in the right place. I ran my hands down the colourful floral skirt and drew in a deep breath, tossing my chin up.
Slipping out of the bathroom, I walked down the stairs and through the kitchen to the sliding doors that led to the back patio. I paused, seeing Alaric standing with my father, holding his daughter’s hand as she shyly peered around his legs at the large bouncy castle.
I hesitated and then jumped half a foot in the air when someone’s hands gripped my shoulders. I whirled, caught off guard. “Relax, Gwen.” Kelsey laughed, shaking her head at my reaction. I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze back out the window.
Letting out a deep sigh, I pivoted to face my sister. “You need to swear on the sacred powers of sisters that you will not doanythingto suggest there’s something between Alaric and me.”
“I promise, Gwen. Relax,” Kelsey assured me, crossing over to the refrigerator. She grabbed two beers and carried them to me. “Our latest arrival doesn’t have a drink yet. Go play hostess and bring this to him.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, taking the bottles. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”
Kelsey frowned a little. “It’s something Mom would make you do anyway. Besides, I’m sure you can carry on a conversation with him without dropping to your knees.”
“You’d be surprised,” I murmured, thinking about how often I ended up doing just that—dropping to my knees instead of telling him how I felt or what I was really thinking.
I swallowed back everything and pasted on a bright smile as I stepped through the sliding doors, Kelsey trailing behind me until she branched off after spotting Elliott by the food table, where the caterers had laid out hors d’oeuvres and fruit.
Keeping my smile as steady as I could, I came to a stop just before Alaric and my dad. “Thirsty?” I said, unable to utter more than one full word as I held out the beers to Alaric and my dad.
“I’ve still got quite a bit left,” Dad remarked, raising his bottle. Alaric’s fingers brushed over mine as he took one of the bottles from me.
“Thanks,” he said, the corner of his lips twitching.
“Why don’t you show Alaric and Sawyer the jumping castle? I should go check in on your mother and make sure she isn’t driving the wait staff nuts.” Dad said, chuckling lightly and squeezing my arm gently as he passed.
“Right, well, let’s go see about that bouncy castle, huh?” I said with relief, smiling down at Sawyer. We walked toward the castle, where children were jumping inside, with more running around in their bare feet on the yard beside it. “Tada! The legendary bouncy castle!”
“Why’s it legendary?” Sawyer asked me, her face scrunching up with confusion.
