“He gave you the old thumbs down emoji?” I say sympathetically. We have a family group chat that Wyatt isn’t a fan of. Mostly because it’s usually Autumn trying to bully us all into submission.
“How did you know?” Autumn asks.
“Pure male intuition.” I wink at her, taking a seat by the table.
“So…” she says. “How long are you staying.Exactly?”
Long enough to make a mess of things. “I’m not sure,” I say, repeating what I said to Eden yesterday. “For a month or two maybe.”
She claps her hands together. “That’s great.”
God, I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting her to beg me to move home forever and never leave again. Which is her usual modus operandi. “Is it?”
“Yes! You can help me with the Art Trail and Gala. I need another volunteer.” The excitement in her voice is palpable.
And I fucking hate volunteering. “No can do,” I tell her. “I’m busy.”
Her smile flickers. “Doing what?”
Think fast, dammit.“I have work to do. I’m training Larry remotely.” Larry is my assistant. He lives above my art gallery in Chicago. And never, ever leaves the place.
“Oh come on, it’s only a few meetings,” Autumn says, ignoring me completely. “You’re the art expert, it would be insane not to have your help. Plus you can invite all your rich friends to the gala. We’re having an auction for charity.” She gives me a beseeching look. “Please?”
I wrinkle my nose. I really don’t want to do this.
“Seriously,” Autumn continues, sounding fiercer now. “Sadie needs help with planning the art and you’re the only one who can do it.”
I blink. Sadie. Her image comes into my mind. The way she looked so pissed at me yesterday. And this morning.
God, she’d hate if I helped.
“Okay,” I say, because apparently I really am an asshole at heart.
“And also…” Autumn pauses, her brows scrunched tight. “Wait, did you just say yes?”
“I believe so.” I shrug.
“Oh. My. God.” She looks around the room. “You all heard that, right?”
“We did,” Eden agrees, grinning.
“No take backs.” Autumn tips her head to the side, like she’s assessing me. “And while we’re at it, why don’t you come stay with Parker and me? Those apartments at the hotel are so soulless.”
Well that’s an easy one. “No.”
Her lips twitch. But seriously, why the hell would I want to stay with her and Parker? Not to mention their infant son, who’s currently nuzzling against Parker’s chest, but likely wakes up screaming throughout the night.
“I’m good,” I say, more softly. “But thank you. I like the apartment. And the view.”
Back when Hudson remodeled the Grand Liberty Hotel as part of his acquisition of the island, he also built two ‘owners’ apartments on the ground floor. They were originally meant to house his best friends and investors, West and Parker.
But since they’ve both married our sisters and moved into their forever homes, they’re conveniently free for me.
“Well, at least I got you on the Art Committee,” Autumn says, looking almost proud of herself.
And fuck it, I’ll let her. I’ll do whatever they need from me. Because I owe them that much.
I’ll help organize her art event, and then when that’s over, and I’ve had every damn test and appointment known to man, I’ll tell them what I know I’ll have to.
