Which only happens when he’s pissed off.
"I can’t blame you for using everything at your disposal to get what you want. I’d have done the same thing."
His expression is calm. But his tone is hard. It’s the only thing that hints at the anger seething inside him.
The air in the room turns arctic with unspoken words between these two.
I fold my arms around my waist, unable to stop the sudden chill traveling up my spine.
James shrugs off his jacket and places it around my shoulders. It reminds me of how he did the same thing when I retreated to the walk-in refrigerator to hide after my outburst.
Like then, I’m enveloped in his scent and his warmth, which sinks into my blood. I feel grounded. Anchored. I snuggle into his jacket with a sigh.
The gesture is not lost on Margot.
Her features soften. "I only want what’s best for you, James."
"I know that." James relaxes his stance.
"I suppose, this is the price I pay for having my uncle as my lawyer." His tone is fatalistic.
"Tristan is your uncle?" I frown.
"My younger son, who I will concede has been a proxy male role model for my grandsons. My older son and his wife are more interested in traveling." She sniffs.
"They were there for us until Phe turned eighteen."
"A child’s brain doesn’t stop growing until they turn twenty-six," Margot scoffs.
Which I know to be true, thanks to my involvement in Freya’s life. But I’m not going to say that aloud. I don’t want to be part of the face-off between Margot and James.
Ooh, the temperature dipped below Arctic, straight to the frozen darkness of the deepest ocean trenches.
"Our parents gave us their best years. I certainly don’t begrudge them wanting to live out the rest of their lives doing what they love." James sets his jaw.
Margot’s gaze turns sad. "They could keep in touch more."
Ah, I see. She misses them. But is too proud to come out and say it.
"They keep in touch with me.”
Her face falls, before she quickly recovers herself. Once more, her features compose themselves into straight lines.
James, of course, is blithely unaware of the effect his words have on her. "They also call the rest of my brothers and sisters, and?—"
I nudge him with my foot. It’s not like Margot needs saving. But it feels cruel to let James blather on when she was unaware that her son and daughter-in-law haven’t been speaking with her but have exchanged phone calls with their kids.
Not that James realizes any of this. Men are so clueless.
He shoots me a startled glance.
"Uh, we need to update Margot about our wedding plans." I pull that out of my arse as a surefire way to get his attention.
Judging by his widened gaze, I’ve succeeded.
"Our wedding plans?" His brows draw down.
"Remember, you said you'd love to marry in the family church?" I flutter my eyelashes at him.
