33. Sully
Sully
B assinet, mini crib, co-sleeper. There are so many options even for our small space.
The idea of having Tia in the bed with us makes me a bit on edge, especially with Sloane’s sleep-undressing habits, so I’m leaning more toward a bassinet. Though I worry she’ll outgrow it too quickly. So maybe a mini crib is best.
“What do you think?”
Brian’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. Blinking, I look from my computer screen. Right. We’re in the middle of a meeting.
Cal kicks his feet up on the conference room table and tosses his mini basketball into the air, clearly leaving me to answer.
Unfortunately, I don’t know what the question was so I go with the one that would work in just about any situation.
“I trust you.” At least it’s the truth.
Brian bows his head, closes his eyes, and sighs.
Lo giggles. “ Someone seems distracted ,” she sings. “Let’s try again. The question was, should you or Cal take on the Sonesta matter.”
Without warning, the orange ball that raises my blood pressure upon sight bounces off my head.
“Pay attention,” Cal teases .
“Oh.” I rub my forehead. “Sorry. I was considering the best type of baby furniture for our room. Sloane’s been so busy at work, so I figured I’d handle it on my own. Thought I’d surprise her. But what the bloody hell do I know about baby furniture?”
With T.J., Sloane made all the choices, and I just nodded and accepted each one.
Lo’s face softens as she reaches for my laptop. “Let me see.” She tips her head to the side and pulls her hair over her shoulder as she studies the options I have pulled up. “Ooh. I love this one. The white would be so cute with pink bedding.”
“White lace itches.”
At the sound of Madame E’s voice, we all straighten.
“Amy!” Brian calls. “You’re supposed to let us know when guests come in.” He fiddles with the walkie-talkie beside him, ensuring it’s turned on, and grumbles, “We’re in the middle of a partner meeting.”
The walkie-talkie crackles before Amy’s voice comes on the other end. “Meeting? What meeting? I just transferred a call from the court to Sully. He’s not in his office?”
Bloody hell. I rub a hand over my face.
“No, Amy.” Brian grits out. “We told you we’re having a partner’s meeting and you were to hold our calls.”
“Huh. Don’t remember that. That’s so weird.” I can picture the shoulder shrug that came with the words.
Lo growls.
Madame E waves her hands. “You’re missing a partner, and if you don’t act quickly, someone else will make her theirs.”
“Oh, is that a riddle?” Cal drops his feet and straightens. Then he nails me in the head with the ball again.
“Bollocks.” I heave forward to snatch it and give him a taste of his own medicine, but the bugger is faster and scoops it up before I can.
“Pay attention,” he tells me. “Madame E, is that a riddle?”
She sighs wearily. “They aren’t riddles, Callahan. They’re my visions. ”
“Yup, visions of the future,” Lo tilts her head. “So this is about Sloane, I’m guessing.”
Unease hits me as I turn to Madame E again. “Say it again. Who is going to make Sloane theirs?”
Brian shakes his head. “She means we need to make her a partner, right?”
With a smile, Madame E spins and strides out. “I only see what I see.”
Lo squints at the now-empty doorway. “Did she come in here just to say that?”
My brother, who’s already leaned back in his chair with his feet on the table again, tosses the ball back into the air over his head. “Bet it was about Sloane and Will.”
My spine snaps straight. My arch nemesis’s name and my wife’s should never be uttered in the same sentence.
“No,” Lo says evenly. “I don’t think that’s a thing. Sloaney was pissed after their date last week.”
My heart lurches, and I lunge forward; the chair beneath me catches on the hideous carpet as it scoots back. “Their what?”
All the color drains from Lo’s face. “She never told you.”
I push myself out of my chair, and on shaky legs, head for the door.
No, my wife did not tell me that she went on a date with Will Fucking Higgins.
And last week? Last week I was fucking her in a barroom closet.
I’ve held her every night this week. We took our son out to celebrate when we found out our baby is a girl.
We picked a name for our child. And my wife never bothered to mention that she was dating someone else.
My brother grabs me by the arm before I can reach the conference room door and yanks me back. “Don’t do it.”
“Don’t do what?” I grit out.
“Don’t go storming into her office and boss her around. If you go in there demanding she can’t date anyone but you, it will only end badly.” He holds my gaze, his expression full of compassion and understanding .
Fuck. I blow out a breath and pull at my hair. “What do I do, then?”
“Exactly what you were doing. Continue showing her that you’re the better option. Go to the store. Get the flat ready for the baby. Be there for her. Don’t dictate her life.”
“She doesn’t want to be with him,” Lo says softly, joining me by the door. “She wants to be with you.”
My body revolts at the idea of not demanding answers, but bloody hell, they’re right.
I slump into my office chair. Just as my arse hits the cushion, my mobile chimes in my pocket.
Sloane: Hi, you don’t have to pick me up tonight. I’ve got another late-night dinner with a client, so I’ll just stay in the city.
My heart plummets.
“What?” Lo asks, peering down at my mobile.
I don’t even bother hiding the screen. No, I let the device clatter to the table.
She hisses in a breath. “It’s not what you think. I’m sure of it.”
But even she doesn’t sound sure.
Still, I do what my brother says.
Me: Okay, sweetheart. If you need anything, just let me know.