“What does Erin say?” Sin pushes a blonde lock behind her ear. “She once told me she wishes she’d taken a year off before going to law school.”
“Yeah, we talked.” His tone tightens. “I’m going to do what I want to do.”
I can’t see his face from this angle, but I hear it, that shift in energy. The edge. Whether it’s the topic or the mention of Erin, he’s done talking.
A tall man with light hair approaches, arm wrapped around the shoulders of a pretty blonde teen. Her eyes bounce across the booth, freezing when they hit Sin.
“Pippa, what are you doing here?” Sin gasps, nearly pushing Jonah and Millie out of the booth.
“I found her in the kitchen talking to Lou.” The man wears a grim expression as he runs a hand through his hair. He glances around the table. “Hey everyone.”
“Hi, Colin,” Olivia says, and both Jonah and Drew chime in with greetings. Olivia quickly introduces us; Colin is Sin’s husband.
“What’s going on?” Sin’s gaze pins her daughter in place. “Who’s watching Tom and Claire?”
“Mom, Claire is taking care of Tommy. I just came to ask Lou if he’d take me driving this weekend.”
“Have you ever heard of a phone?” Sin’s tone sharpens. “You should have called Lou. Young lady, you’re supposed to be watching your brother and sister. Claire cannot be alone with Tom. Seriously, Pippa, what am I going to do with you?”
Without waiting a beat for her daughter to respond, she continues, “And you can forget about driving with Lou this weekend. You’re grounded and we’re no longer paying you for babysitting your brother and sister since you’ve no clue what that means.”
“Mom, seriously.” Pippa grabs at her hair in frustration. “Claire’s ten. I was going to be gone thirty minutes, tops.”
Colin turns his daughter to face him. “You know better. Claire isn’t old enough to babysit. That’s why we askedyouto do it. Let’s go.”
“I don’t need you to take me home. I’m seventeen now and can get home by myself.” She ends her gripe with a twist of her lips.
Sin waves Jonah and Millie out so she can slide from the booth. “You’re not walking home alone in the dark.”
“I don’t need a chaperone.” Pippa crosses her arms and glares at both parents. They exchange a look, equal parts exasperation and exhaustion.
“Hey, Aunt Sin, Uncle Colin, I can take her home,” Drew says.
Turning, Pippa’s gaze lands on Drew, and instantly, she softens. Her cheeks heat a dark pink and she tucks a blonde strand behind her ear as she shifts from spunky to demure.
“Drew, hi. I didn’t even see you there.” A wave of crimson fans out across her cheeks.
“Hey, Pip.” He turns to her parents. “I was going to head home anyway. I’ll walk with her.”
“That’s a great idea.” Olivia nudges my thigh and we scoot out for Drew. “Thanks, honey.”
Pippa beams as her sassy teenager attitude vacates the building. She practically floats out of the pub beside Drew with her parents, Sin and Colin, following.
“In case you missed it.” Jonah chuckles. “Pippa is gaga for our man, Drew.”
Olivia smiles. “She’s had a crush on Drew for years. It’s harmless. Let her be.”
“I’d watch that if I were you. Miss Pip is no wallflower—she’s the type to go after what she wants, and Drew seems to be in her sights,” Jonah drawls.
“It’s all innocent.” Olivia waves him off.
Shortly after, Jonah announces he and Millie are leaving.
Olivia places her water on the table. “You came with us. How are you getting home?”
“An Uber is on its way.”
My smile grows. I turn to Olivia as they leave and catch her hand. “Alone at last.”
