Cade glances at me. “I’m good with them staying here with me.”
“I said no and I’m not changing my mind,” I say with some force as I pull my chair out and sit.
Meredith’s lips press together, unimpressed. “Just so you know, this is another display of gender inequality in this house. You let Cade stay on his own when he was sixteen.”
Thankfully, Lily joins us before I can open my mouth and lay down the law with my daughter. She slips into her seat and says, “Meredith, stop. Your father wants to keep you safe. I’ll call Madison and see if you can stay with them next weekend.”
“I’m just saying the double standards are blazing brightly and I am not a fan,” Meredith says.
Lily gulps some coffee down before saying, “I tell you what, darling, the lawn needs mowing, and since you’re looking for a domestic chore that hasn’t been historically performed by women, the job is all yours. This afternoon.”
Cade almost chokes on his drink and Meredith shoots daggers at him.
Travis finally makes his way to the table, dropping down into his seat with a pissed-off look on his face.
When he refuses to meet my gaze, I say, “Don’t bring your mood to the table, Travis. You know the rules.”
His head snaps up and he brings his hostility with him when he finds my eyes. “Yeah, just likeyouknow the rules, Dad, but it never stops you bringing your mood to the table when you want to.”
I choose to ignore his dig at me because if there’s one thing Lily’s taught me over the years with her parenting, it’s to choose my fucking battles. “If you don’t want us to have to have the conversation we’re having this afternoon,” I say, “Don’t behave in a way that necessitates that kind of conversation.” I pause. “And don’t bring your mood over that upcoming conversation to a family meal.”
Travis doesn’t reply to that. He simply gives me one last scowl before focusing on his breakfast.
“So,” Cade says, looking at his mother with a shit-eating grin, “do you want me to do the laundry when I get home from work tonight? You know, since we’re all swapping chores around here now.”
Meredith throws another filthy glare at him as Lily says, “Cade,” in a warning tone.
He has the good fucking sense to listen to her and drop it.
We settle into silence while eating our breakfast until Meredith receives some text messages and instantly picks up her phone to check them.
When she taps out a reply, Lily says, “Meredith.”
We have three rules for mealtimes.
One: Leave your bad mood behind.
Two: Leave your phone behind.
Three: Stay until everyone has finished eating.
Meredith puts her phone down. “Sorry. It was Chloe. She’s had a huge fight with her parents, and I’ve been worried about her.”
Chloe is one of Meredith’s best friends. They’ve been inseparable since they were seven. Some days, it feels like she’s another child of ours with how often she’s over here.
“She’s not okay?” I ask.
Meredith shakes her head. “No. Her dad left.”
Lily’s brows pull together. “As in, he moved out?”
“Yeah,” Meredith says. “As in, he’s been having an affair for two years and I think he’s a pig with the way he’s treating her mother and her.”
“Don’t call him names,” Lily says.
“He deserves it,” Meredith says.
Lily gives me the look that tells me I need to step up here. Fuck if I want to, though. I’ve always thought Chloe’s father was an asshole.
