Page 117 of The Boss

We all walk through the threshold of the house, and the sound of everyone talking comes through the entryway.

“I think you should call your dad,” I say to Ryan.

He nods and pulls out his phone.

We might have brought whatever this fight is right to our door.

FORTY-SEVEN

JULIET

I hear the front door close, and Gino’s voice faintly reaches my ears quickly after. Then, he walks into the kitchen with a young blonde woman who looks oddly familiar. Gino walks to me and places a kiss on the side of my head.

“Hey, bella,” he says, giving me a soft smile.

“Hey,” I reply and look behind him.

The young woman is wearing a light blue sundress and is looking around the kitchen in awe.

“This is Sophie,” Gino says.

Sophie turns and looks at me, a little surprised. “Oh. Um, hi,” she extends a hand to me to shake.

“Hi, I’m Juliet.”

“I know.” I look at her, confused, and Gino snorts. “That sounded bad. I’m so sorry, uhh, I just know a lot about you from my brother and my dad.” She averts her gaze.

Before I say anything, Ryan walks through the doorway.

“Hey Juliet, I see you met my sister, Sophie,” he says.

I look at him, trying to hide the questions I want to ask.

“Soph,” he says.

“Yeah?” She replies.

“Dad’s on his way. Stay with Juliet; I don’t want him knowing you’re here,” he says to her.

“Yeah, okay,” Sophie whispers.

Then he leaves the room, and she turns to me. “I really hope my dad isn’t a complete asshole. I know he is one, but I hope he didn’t do something horrible,” Sophie says.

“It’ll be okay,” I reply. “Vanessa is in the family room. I'm going to grab something to drink. Do you want something?”

“I’m okay,” she answers.

She follows me quietly into the family room.

“Hi,” Vanessa says with a bright smile as she looks past me at Sophie.

“Hi,” Sophie replies. “I’m Sophie, Ryan’s sister.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Vanessa replies.

“You too.”

One of the babies starts to cry over the baby monitor, and Vanessa gets up to check on them.