I also need to get my shit together over that dress because if I know one fucking thing right now, it’s that Meredith is headstrong and won’t back down easily. I raised her that way. Lily and I have done everything in our power to ensure all our kids are confident and not afraid to stand up for themselves. IfMeredith has decided the black dress is the one she wants to wear, she’ll go to war with me over it. And while I’m good with going to war with any fucker out there who wants to fight me over shit, I’ve learned that going to war with my kids isn’t always the best course of action. History has taught me that and I’d be a fucking fool not to pay attention to those lessons.
Lily’s POV
7:15 p.m.
“DidDad tell you guys what a kid asked him the other day while we were out getting bagels for breakfast?” Cade asks over dinner.
“No,” Meredith says, looking at her brother with eager anticipation. Our kids love giving their father shit over stuff.
“He asked if Dad drew all those drawings on his skin by himself or whether his mum helped him,” Cade says.
“Oh my god, that’s the best,” Meredith says, laughing.
“What did you tell him?” Travis asks his father.
“Dad didn’t get a chance to answer because the kid’s mother pulled him away pretty fast,” Cade says.
Meredith grins at her father. “I’d pull my kid away too. Dad’s a scary old man.”
“Enough of the old bullshit,” King tells her, but there’s a smile in his eyes. One that she returns.
I thought we were in for a battle earlier when she sashayed out in the dress Chloe offered her to wear tomorrow. King had that look in his eyes that usually signals he’s not about to back down. I was right there with him; I wasn’t a fan of the black dress either. Somehow, I managed to convince her to stick with the dress we’d already selected for the party. And somehow,King managed to keep his cool. He appeared surprised when he learned she’d changed her mind over the black dress. He also seemed to have come around to her wearing it if that was her choice. I haven’t had a chance to talk with him about this yet, but whatever caused him to calm down, we need a whole lot more of that in our lives. I suspect we’re in for many more battles with Meredith.
“Hey,” Stone says, looking at Meredith. “How’d you go with that essay?”
I don’t miss the way King watches this conversation with interest. I’m watching it in the same way. There’s something new between Meredith and Stone. Something I’m not sure about.
Meredith has never really given much attention to Cade’s best friend. He’s always just been the boy hanging out with her brother. One of the many boys who annoyed her in this house. That’s changed. She’s hanging off his every word tonight. And worse, he’s doing the same with her.
Stone Kingsley is eighteen. He and Cade have been attached at the hip for three years. I love him like a son, but that doesn’t mean I want my daughter to fall for him.
Stone is the boy who has always had the girls falling at his feet thanks to his good looks and charm. He’s travelled the world with his family and has life experience that Meredith has never known. Stone is the son of a Hollywood actor who lives in Sydney, and he’s taken up acting too. He’s just finished filming a movie in which he’s the lead actor. A teen film that I’m sure will do well and only increase his popularity around the world. The last thing I want is for my sixteen-year-old daughter, who’s just discovering boys, to develop a crush on a boy who is finding his feet like Stone is. A boy who likely won’t be around for much longer.
“The one on climate change?” Meredith says, her face flushed with excitement.
Stone nods, his full attention on her like she’s the only person in the room with him. “Yeah. The one you were telling me about the other week.”
Meredith glows at that. “I got an A.”
Stone’s face lights up with the kind of smile every girl would love to receive. “I knew you would.”
I look at King. His body is rigid as he takes this encounter in.
Oh God.
I reach for my drink because my throat suddenly feels dry. In my haste to pick the glass up, I actually knock it over. Water spills everywhere and I practically jump out of my seat.
“Geez, Mum,” Travis mutters as water flies across the food on his plate. “Thanks.”
“Sorry, Trav,” I say as I walk into the kitchen to retrieve paper towel.
My phone sounds with a text as I walk past it on the way to the pantry where I store the paper towel. Needing a distraction, I check the message.
Birdie
Lil! I’ve come down with a stomach bug. I’m praying I’m better for tomorrow.
Me
