Chapter 16
It’s barely light outside when I stir. I slide my eyes open, stretching luxuriously to find Ross awake and watching me.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he says as he leans over and plants a sweet kiss to my mouth, zero cares given to my morning breath.
I smile, teasing, “Why are you watching me like a creeper?”
“I have something to tell you,” he says, his expression serious.
I shuffle in the bed, sitting up and leaning against the pillows. I take a big breath, steeling myself. “How bad is it?”
He ducks his head. “Remember how you asked if I was buttering you up with the bath?” I nod, and he says, “Well, I wasn’t.
But dinner last night was supposed to butter you up, but I got sidetracked.
” He cuts his eyes to the side, scanning down my body hungrily even though I’m mostly covered by the blankets.
I smack his shoulder, scolding, “Get to it. I’m dying here!”
It’s telling that I’m not worried he’s backing out. That thought never even enters my mind because I know we’re a team, but I am worried if whatever this is requires easing me into it.
“My mom called yesterday,” he says. He goes on to tell me about the gala and his mom wanting to invite my family. “I tried to tell her that there was no way it’d work. I knew you wouldn’t want the stress with everything we’re trying to get accomplished, but—”
“But it’s hard to tell your parents no,” I say, clenching my teeth. “I’m worried about our families getting together at all. But at a fancy charity event?”
“I know. I told Mom it wouldn’t be good for Papa’s health, so we could probably get a pass for him and maybe Nana, but we’re roped pretty hard into it.”
I growl. “I don’t want to be in any more paparazzi shots, and knowing our luck, there’s going to be some crazed Ross Andrews fan who reports every faux pas I make.”
We’ve managed to stay out of the society pages for the last few days, and I’d really like to keep it that way after the initial article that painted me so poorly, especially after the fresh burn of Colin echoing the same insult.
It’s not that I care what he thinks at all, but I know he’s repeating the gossip about me and Ross that’s circulating through that entire crowd.
He reaches over, taking my hand. “If it helps, I’m right there with you. I try to avoid these galas and events because Mom does them all the time, and I spent years as her golden child show pony. She meant well, was just proud of me, but it only gets more awkward the older you get.”
“But we have to go?” I ask, wishing there were a way out of this.
His lips screw up, and he nods. “We do. Mom and Courtney tag-teamed to get me to agree on the phone, which means Dad definitely knows by now. If we don’t show up, I’m afraid it’ll raise red flags.”
I pale, knowing that’d be the kiss of death for us right now. Morgan doesn’t believe us already. Refusing to show our faces to his cronies would only demonstrate that he’s right to have doubts.
“Okay, so we’re stuck, but we’ll handle it.
What about our families?” I shake my head.
“Fuck, Ross. I really didn’t think about how our families are supposed to get along.
I mean, your Mom and Dad are okay, but Papa and Morgan?
Talk about polar opposites. Or Nana and Morgan? Though that one might be fun.”
Okay, it might be a little evil to take some sick joy in the thought of Nana verbally fileting Morgan to shreds, but I’m not going to admit that out loud.
“Those two? What about Nana and Mom?” he asks, both of us smiling at the image of Kimberly trying to converse with Nana or Aunt Sofia.
Kimberly probably wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise.
“Although I do think our mothers could get along decently. They used to be okay when Abi and you were going back and forth between houses. Maybe they can build on that?”
“So we’ve got one possible match and several landmines. What could go wrong?” I say, throwing my hands wide and scooting back under the covers. Maybe I can just hide out and not have to deal with any of this. That’d be okay, right?
Ross leans over me, searching my soul with his eyes. “So, we’re all in?”
I bite my lip but nod. “Okay . . . but I’m still worried. I want it on the record that I think this is a bad idea.”
He boops my nose, and I shake my head, refusing the tease. “Noted.”
“Mom?” I ask as soon as I hit my office, wanting to get this out of the way. “I’ve got good news.”
Okay, well good news isn’t quite the word I’d use for this, but dammit, I’m going to try and see this from Mom’s point of view.
“Hey, honey, I was just about to call you. What’s up?” Mom asks. Even as she asks, she sounds distracted, but I dive in to get this over with.
“There’s a charity event, and Mrs. Andrews was hoping to turn it into a family affair to give everyone a chance to meet before the wedding.”
“Really?” Mom asks before her voice fades and she yells from a distance, “Yes, Mama! I’m telling her now! I know I need to get to work!”
“What’s going on, Mom?” I ask, confused. She should be at work, but it sounds like she’s at Nana’s. Terror shoots through me. “Oh, God, is Papa okay?”
“What? Oh, yeah, the old goat is fine. It’s just that . . .” she sighs, and I know she’s only half talking to me because I can hear her shuffling and moving around on her end of the line. “Three of your cousins are scheduled to arrive today. You know . . . Vanessa, Estella, and Marissa?”
“Which Marissa?” I ask, grinning. There are a lot of Ms in my family.
“The Triplets. They just finished their first year of college,” Mom replies.
“Which is why I’m heading out now. Seems they found one of those last-minute ticket deals, so they’re coming in a few days early for the wedding.
I don’t begrudge the tight budget and bargain hunting.
Really, I’m just glad they can come, but .
. .” her voice drops, and I wonder if Nana’s in the same room with her.
“I’m glad they’re staying with Mama so I don’t have to listen to their constant singing. ”
“That’s great, Mom. I’m glad they’re coming too,” I say, also relieved that they’re staying with Nana.
Being college students means they’re broke as a joke, I’m sure, so it’s a real gift that they’re coming for the big family affair of my wedding.
And I know they want to see Papa one last time.
But I’ve heard them sing, though it was years ago, and Little Mix doesn’t have to worry about the triplets taking over their sales, that’s for sure.
“That’s what I was going to call you about, Violet. They land in about ninety minutes, and I have got to go to work. If I call out today, my boss is going to crap himself.”
I can hear the direction she’s going with this and glance down to my planner’s to-do list and appointments.
Another dress shop is coming by, I need to finalize the velvet for Ms. Montgomery’s drapes and prepare for the next room in her never-ending renovation, order Ross’s couch for his office, and now I need to get ready for this gala.
I pencil that in and scribble a Post-It note to remind myself to fill Archie in when he gets here.
“Okay, I’ll send a car to pick up the triplets. Don’t worry, Mom.” There. See? I can do it all and not miss a beat.
“Violet,” Mom draws out my name in disappointment. “You cannot send an impersonal car to pick up your family. That would be disrespectful. You need to go pick them up, please?”
That should be a question. We both know full-well that it’s not. It’s an order, a directive I can’t and won’t ignore.
I sigh, drawing an arrow through the couch ordering and moving it to tomorrow.
Ross won’t mind, not when he’s the one who added the gala to my to-do list, anyway.
“Fine, I’ll get the triplets and take them to Nana’s.
What’s their plan from there? Do I need to play hostess with the mostest?
” I pray that’s not what Mom wants me to do.
I hear her car start up, and she switches me over to the speakerphone.
“No, nothing like that. Just pick them up, go to Nana’s and politely excuse yourself for wedding things.
They’ll understand. Beyond the wedding, they’re mostly here for sightseeing, free food, and laundry services.
Nana will take good care of them and enjoy doing it. ”
“Okay, I’m on it.”
“I’ve got to go, baby girl. Can’t drive and talk, you know.
Can you text me the information about this charity event thing Kimberly wants us to go to?
I’m happy to do whatever you need me to do, Violet.
I’m just so proud of you.” There’s a moment of hitched breathing, but then she lets out a big exhale.
“Sorry, I really have to go. Love you, bye!”
And with a click, she’s gone. “Fuck me!”
“Intriguing, Boss Bitch, but I think that job’s already taken,” Archie says, sticking his head in my door. “What’s up?”
I give him the full rundown on everything’s that’s happened as he takes notes, and then I summarize.
“I need you to go onsite and handle the ballroom for a few hours,” I tell him, grabbing my purse and keys.
“Apparently, I’ve gotta pick up some cousins and drop them at Nana’s.
I’ll text my mom about the charity gala, and achieve world peace, which would probably be easier than integrating my family and Ross’s.
Then I need to pull off the miracle of finding the right wedding dress.
So my, you know, actual career I need to leave in your capable, manicured hands. ”
Archie checks out his black-polished, stubbed nails, humming. “Speaking of which, I really do need to take some time off for a mani-pedi—”
“You’d better be joking.”