“Will you come here and apologize to your sister, please?” Sadie says. I know it upsets her that Charlie still hasn’t warmed up to Chloe even after all this time.
“But I’m not sorry.”
“Charlie,” Wills threatens.
“You’re not sorry?” Sadie cries.
“No.” Charlie recrosses her arms with fury.
Sadie ducks her head to hide her tears.
Wills stands up and points to the stairs. He’s mad. “Go back upstairs now, Charlotte, and think about how it would make you feel if someone said they didn’t like your face. Or if Mummy, Daddy, or any of your aunts or uncles”—he points to the three of us—“were mean to you.”
“You’re mean!” she yells as she runs for the staircase. “And I’m not living here anymore with you meanies.”
“Okay, then move out,” Wills yells.
“Fine! I’m moving to Uncle Decs’s tonight!”
“Good luck, they have two babies, not one.”
“Well.” She thinks about that for a second. “They’re my cousins, not my sister. That’s different,” she yells and slams the door.
My sensitive Sadie starts crying, and Wills pulls her in for a hug then cups her cheek, pressing his lips to her forehead. “She’s going to grow out of it, I promise,” he whispers.
“You said that last month, and for the six months before that.”
Wills looks at us, his eyes pleading. “This is why I want to go away. It’s been stressful here with the wedding and Charlotte. On top of that, work has been crazy for both of us. Going away just the four of us will give Charlotte a chance to bond with Chloe in a more relaxed atmosphere. And it’s the only week that works since we’re going on our honeymoon soon. It would be nice if they got along for the wedding, and I don’t want Charlotte to be a nightmare for my mum and sister while we’re away.”
I don’t even have to look at Jack. I already know the answer. “Of course we’ll do it.” Although, the thought of being alone with Jack doesn’t necessarily excite me. It petrifies the shit out of me.
The last time we were alone in a foreign city, we ended up married, which didn’t turn out so well for us.
A door slams upstairs, followed by the sound of crying echoing from Charlie’s bedroom.
“I think that’s our cue to leave. Unless you want me to talk to her?” Jack asks Sadie and Wills.
Wills considers it, but Sadie shakes her head. “No, you go, it’s fine.”
He slaps Wills on the back and kisses his sister. “She’s going to grow to love Chloe. Who wouldn’t?” He blows a raspberry on Chloe’s tummy, and she giggles, hiding her face in his neck.
“I hope so.” She turns to me. “Have fun on your date tonight.”
I furrow my brows, unsure of what she’s talking about. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. “Fuck. I was so wrapped up with my meeting that I completely forgot.”
“What date?” Jackson growls.
Sadie hits his arm. “Leave her alone. You probably have three dates tonight.”
“I don’t have one fucking date, let alone three, thank you very much. I’m going home after I drop off Lola and B… By myself,” he tacks on.
“Are you being serious right now?” I question.
“Yes.” He narrows his eyes. “I don’t need meaningless dates to fulfill my week.”
“Since when?” I prod. He’salwaysout.
“Since I said so,” he huffs, annoyed.
