I expected the gloves to come off in the new year.
Are they giving Matt shit at the party or will they wait until January second, when they’re in a position of power at the office? What will he say?
Matt had let me do most of the talking during the Christmas party, but would he cave under the threatening glares of Jamie, Jack, and Jay?
No, he’s a SEAL, and they don’t cave, no matter how intense the withering glares.
Natalie stirred, bringing me out of my head.
“I’m coming, Nat,” I said as I put my empty mug down.
Meg and Jack came home as I finished feeding my hungry niece.
“How’d she do?” Meg asked as soon as she walked into the living room.
“She was an angel. Settle in while I burp her.”
“I’ve got it,” Meg said, holding out her hands.
This was the first time she’d left Natalie in someone else’s care.
“I’m surprised you didn’t check in,” I said, keeping my tone light.
“I took her phone,” Jack said. The only reason he was comfortable taking her phone was because he had access to the baby monitor footage. They trusted me, but new parents often struggled with leaving their newborn in someone else’s care.
“I lasted longer than I thought I would,” Meg said as she gently patted Natalie on the back.
“You should go to the party; there’s plenty of time to celebrate before the clock strikes midnight,” Jack offered.
And spend two hours pretending I wasn’t actively avoiding Matt while I was avoiding him like the fucking plague? No thank you.
I looked down at my fuzzy-stocking covered feet, my red plaid flannel pajama pants, and my faded USN T-shirt, which now had baby spit-up on it. “I think I’m good.”
As if reading my mind, Jack added, “He’s not there.”
“Who?” I played dumb.
“You know who, Madi,” Jack said, following me to the kitchen. “We have to talk about it eventually.”
I laughed. “No, we don’t.”
“He works for us.”
“What’s that got to do with the price of tea in China?”
He ran his hand through his wavy brown hair, making it stick up.
“Did you ever tell Dad?”
“I told him all he needs to know.”
“Which is?”
“Christ, Jack. Let it go.”
“I can’t.”
My sigh sounded like a foghorn.
