I hitch the laptop under my arm. “I’m not eating with the family.”
Her hands slam onto her hips. “You aren’t serious. It’s my welcome-home dinner.”
“Does Dad even know you’re home?”
“Why are you being so insolent? I’m here, as well as your brother, and the Klein family.” She snaps her fingers. “You are joining us.”
“You didn’t give Dad a heads-up? He would’ve left the office and flown the chopper back if you’d called.”
“That wasn’t my priority. Seeing you and Ash is.”
I hug the laptop against my body. “Besides doing a menu tasting with the society ladies. You could’ve sent Dad an email in between messages with Chef Renaldo.”
Mom sighs. “Would you put the laptop down and change into something more appropriate? Why have you started dressing so casually?”
“I can’t join you tonight,” I persist. “You took up all my time this afternoon, and I need to contact a teacher. Plus, I need to send volunteering instructions to the girls.”
“If you hadn’t neglected signing up volunteers, there’d be no rush to contact them now.”
I back away. “Look, you didn’t give me any notice about your return. I’m just honoring my commitments, like you taught me.”
“Your family is one of your commitments.”
I halt, lowering my laptop. “I guess I could stay and talk about what I saw in Switzerland.”
Mom’s chin drops, and astonishment rounds her eyes.
Cradling the laptop, I raise my chin. “Your choice.”
Mom bats her hand. “Fine, get going. I can’t stand your constant arguments.”
Before she changes her mind, I dash down the hallway and exit the manor.
“I’m here,” I call out, hurrying into the pool house.
Dax leans out the bedroom doorway. “I was just going to lie down. Is that okay?”
“Of course,” I say, moving up the hall to meet him. He’s pulled off his jacket and is in a tank undershirt.
I place the laptop on the nightstand and sit beside him as he flops on the bed like a starfish.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, placing a hand on his forehead.
His eyes drift upward. “You don’t have to play doctor.”
I remove my hand. “I was just wondering if the ride took some of your strength.”
“I’ve been riding as long as I’ve been walking. You don’t have to worry about me on the bike.”
I frown at him. “You’ve blacked out on your feet and on the bike.”
He huffs at the ceiling. “Sassy.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to go on about this.” I scoot closer to him. “There has to be a way for me to make this better.”
Dax grunts as his chest rises with frustrated breaths.
I curl my arm around his. “Let me fix this.”
