I ushered them inside while Pete danced around their feet.
“Hope we're not interrupting anything,” Marco said, giving me a quick hug.
“Just me and my cookies.Which, now that I think about it, will go perfectly with that wine.”
As we settled into the living room, Wick uncorked the bottle while Meghan arranged an impressive array of cheeses on a platter.
“So, first week in the books.Ready to quit yet?”he asked, handing me a glass.
I took a sip before answering, savoring the rich flavor.“It's...intense.But I’m enjoying it.Carter's not exactly the easiest person to work for, but?—”
“But?”Meghan prompted.
I studied the swirling ruby liquid in my glass.“But he's not as bad as I initially thought.He can actually be quite considerate.”
“Plus, he's hot as fuck.”Wick elbowed Marco in the stomach.“Ouch!Shit!Sorry!He’s nowhere as hot as you, cucciolo.”
“Damn straight.”
I nearly choked on my wine.“Geez, Marco!He's my boss!”
“Doesn't mean you can't appreciate the view,” Meghan said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the hot prickles creeping up my neck.“Can we please talk about something else?Anything else?”
Marco leaned forward, his eyes glinting.“Okay, how about we discuss why you're baking cookies at”—he glanced at his watch—”9 p.m.on a Friday?”
I sighed, tugging on Pete's ears as he rested his head on my lap.“Stress baking, I guess.It's been...a lot lately.”
Wick's expression creased with concern.“How are you really doing, Liv?”
The worry in his voice made my throat tighten.I took another sip of wine, buying time to collect my thoughts.“I'm...I'm okay.Better than I was, at least.The job helps.Gives me something to focus on besides...”
I trailed off, not wanting to dive into the mess that was my personal life.But as I looked around at the caring faces of my brother and his partners, I had the sudden urge to open up.
I took a steadying breath.“It's just everything.Ethan, the miscarriages, the pain.Sometimes it’s like I'm drowning in it all.”My voice cracked, and I blinked back tears.“But then Carter offered to let me bring Pete to work, and he set up this appointment with his doctor friend.It's these little moments of kindness that keep me going, you know?”
Meghan reached over and took my hand.“That's really sweet of him, Liv.It sounds like he cares.”
I nodded, smiling faintly.“I think he does.In his own grumpy way.”
“Speaking of grumpy,” Wick said, “how about we lighten the mood?I've got some juicy office gossip that'll make you forget all about your brooding boss.”
As Wick launched into a hilarious story about a Zoom call mishap at the last company meeting, the weight on my shoulders eased.Surrounded by family and friends, with Pete's comforting weight against my leg, it dawned on me that this was the first time in months that I’d made it through a week without crying.
My phone vibrated in my lap, and I glanced down.
CARTER
See you and Pete on Monday.Hope you enjoy your weekend.
A smile snuck onto my face before I could stop it.It wasn't much, but coming from Carter, it meant something.
“Ooh, someone's looking starry-eyed,” Meghan teased, leaning forward with a grin.“Who's the text from?”
Darn it, Olivia.Be more transparent.
“It's, uh, just Carter,” I mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.“Confirming that Pete can come to work on Monday.”
