“Shit!” Ellie said, backing away into the hall and closing my bedroom door. “I’m so sorry!” She turned to me. “Liam, you didn’t tell me you had company.”
I tightened the grip on my towel. “You didn’t even give me a chance. Now tell me why you randomly showed up and waltzed in, ruining my perfect night.”
“What’s today’s date?” She eyed me carefully.
“September ninth…I think. Yes. Yes, the ninth.”
She just stared at me, eyebrows raised as if waiting for something to click. Now that I had a moment to think, I took in her appearance. She was dressed in an emerald gown, her brown hair curled, her makeup perfect.
“Why are you dressed up?”
She waited, hands on her hips, tapping her foot. “September ninth…” she emphasized.
I racked my brain for why this date was important, when it hit me. “Shit. Father’s birthday.”
“And not just any birthday. It’s his seventieth.”
“No…that can’t be right. That’s still a couple of years away.”
“No, Liam. It’s today. And you know what that means.”
“The big party.”
“Yep.”
“It’s tonight, isn’t it?”
She nodded. “And Mother expects you to be there. We all have to be there.”
“Even Callahan and Otto?” I asked.
“Yes, our brothers will be there too.”
“Dammit.”
Aside from my sister, I hadn’t seen my family in a couple of years, using ‘work’ excuses to get out of obligations. There was them. And then there was me—the eccentric professor who couldn’t care less about their artificial lifestyle. Who would rather collect feathers and go to painting classes and fail at throwing axes than attend lavish parties and feign interest in the latest scandal among the elite.
I released a heavy sigh. “When is the party?”
Ellie looked at her watch. “Twenty minutes. We can make it in time if you hurry.”
Cerise opened the bedroom door, wrapped in a robe. “Did I hear something about a party?”
Ellie turned to her, her green eyes rife with apology. “I’m so sorry for walking in on you. I didn’t know you were here.”
Cerise gave her a small smile. “It’s all right.” She held out her hand. “I don’t think we ever officially met. Cerise Thornheart.”
My sister took her hand. “Ellie Pendragon. I suppose you’re right. We didn’t get to chat during the jungle rescue.”
“So…” Cerise looked between me and my sister.
“Right, yes.” I turned to her. “Tonight is my father’s seventieth birthday party and I’m expected to be there. I sort of forgot about it…”
I could see the wheels turning in Cerise’s expression. The anxiety of last-minute plan changes; hesitance. But then…resolve. “I’ll hurry and get changed.”
“You don’t have to come. You can stay here and relax if you want. My parents are ratherdifficult.”
“Well it’s a good thing I have an astounding amount of experience with difficult parents. I’ll come.”
