Shaking my head, I laugh. “Yeah, good luck with that.” She got all giddy when she found out it was Lottie and Ethan.
“I never asked in the hopes for a freebie,” she says, bringing her thumb to her mouth and chewing on her nail.
“No one said you did,” I reply curtly.
“Yeah, well, that's how it sounded.” She drops her hand to her side, clenching her fist.
Running my hand through my hair, I let out an exasperated sigh.
“For fuck’s sake, Violet. Does everything have to be a bloody fight with you?” I snap.
As soon as the words leave my lips, I see the emotion behind her eyes, and I want to recoil. I’m the joker who never takes anything seriously, but things are clearly getting on top of me. I enjoy Violet's banter and love how she spars with me in the verbal sense.
“Fuck off, Nathan.” But her voice doesn’t hold its usual sass. If anything, she sounds defeated. And it makes me think of my sisters and how angry I get when some arsehole upsets any one of them.
I’m about to apologise when I hear the door open behind me, and I look over my shoulder as an older guy walks in. He seems larger than Henry, and that's saying something.
He looks at Violet with something akin to fatherly concern before eyeing me suspiciously. I won’t lie, it’s slightly intimidating, but I’m used to it. I’ve spent most of my life around men like him.
“Everything alright here, precious?”
Her cheeks heat a little by his pet name as she clears her throat. “Yeah, Marco. He was just leaving.”
ChapterSix
VIOLET
I feel like an absolute bitch after he came here to bring those cupcakes, but he was the one who was short with me first. It’s what Tanya always used to say to me because I’d challenge her, even when she walked all over me, I still pulled her up on it. The only difference was I put up with it for longer than I should have.
Either way, as much as I hate to admit it, I need to clear the air with Nathan. I enjoy the to-and-fro, but we can’t spend the next six weeks arguing.
Me: The cakes are amazing. I was thinking of two dozen mixed cupcakes and a mixture of pastel icing. And then, for the gender reveal, a simple vanilla sponge with a raspberry filling and a coloured sponge. What do you think?
Chewing my thumbnail, I pace in the confines of my living room, nervous about how he’ll respond or if he’ll respond. Not like I care. I was more than happy to do this myself, but with Char being so busy moving in with Ethan and now the twins on their way, I guess I have more time in my otherwise dull social calendar, even if it is organising a baby shower with Nathan.
Muscles: Yeah, sounds good. Do you want the main cake to be a mixture of pastel buttercream with some roses?
I pause my thumb on my phone screen, tilting my head. I am surprised that it would be pretty on point for the overall scheme I have in mind.
Me: Yes, that sounds kind of perfect.
Biting my lip, I quickly type another text before I chicken out.
Me: Listen, I didn’t mean for that to escalate so quickly when you brought the cakes. I have an audition tomorrow, and honestly, I’m nervous about it.
I guess that's as close to an apology as he’s going to get from me.
Muscles: Audition?? *meme: tell me more?
Moving to the sofa, I sit down and pull my legs up underneath myself.
Me: You want to know?
Rather than a message, my phone starts ringing.
“Hello?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”
