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“I got it.” CC’s soft, sweet voice rings out from the living room.
Drago and I both turn, leaving the kitchen to go see who’s here. Caprice sounds excited, so maybe she has a friend other than Luca that I don’t know about. Or better yet, a boyfriend. D’s sister is beautiful. I’m surprised college guys aren’t swarming her, but then again, maybe they are and she just doesn’t talk about them.
“We’re not too early, are we?” It surprises me when I hear Justin’s voice as I stop by the stairwell, Drago doing the same directly behind me.
“Of course not,” she says with a chipper tone.
Maybe she’s a morning person.
“It’ll be Luca who’s late with Mia.” She laughs, turning and walking back through the foyer. “We’ll likely have to go pick her up. But I need to get Gabe ready.”
“Why is he here?” Drago asks, his breath fanning the top of my head.
“I don’t have classes on Fridays. I thought it’d be fun to take Mia and Tori to Disneyland for the day.”
I take note of the little blonde girl down by his side. She’s holding on to her dad’s hand, but looking around. I step to the side, letting them come into the living room.
“It’s not even eight in the morning.” Drago’s brows pinch together. It’s obvious he’s wondering why Justin and his daughter are here this early.
“The district is already open,” she says, eyeing her brother like that’s something he should know. I didn’t. Can’t say that I even know what she means by ‘the district’ either. I’ve been to Disneyland, but not since I was a small kid, and I really don’t remember that much of it. “We’re going to eat breakfast with the girls first, and there’s no telling how long that’ll take. It might be lunchtime before we get into the park.”
“We?” Drago asks, then flips his eyes to Summers.
“Justin’s off.” She shrugs, turning away from us. “He’s going with me.”
“What did you mean about getting Gabriel ready?” I ask.
“Oh shoot.” Her facial features turn remorseful. “I meant to ask you yesterday when you got home, but with everything, I completely forgot. Can I take him with us? I’ll take good care of him. I promise.” Her big brown eyes stare into mine, waiting for my decision. I know it shouldn’t feel strange that she’s deferring to me instead of Drago, but it does. Probably because I’m still seeing that bitch and D as his parents and not myself. Yet, I know he’s mine.
“If you really want to, then sure, it’s fine with me.” I smile reassuringly back at her. “Did you tell Mona? I don’t want her to show up if she isn’t needed today.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I was excited yesterday, and I told her I was going to ask you and that I doubted you’d say no. She’ll probably still show because that’s just her, and she doesn’t think my brother’s house is ever clean enough.”
I’d ask Drago to call her, but I’ve learned that’d be pointless; CC is right. She’ll show no matter what any of us do or say. I like that about her, though. What I don’t like is the way she acted last night when D’s dad was here. I didn’t like that side of Mona at all. It makes me sad that one person can affect someone as strong as she is in such a negative way.
“CC,” Justin’s daughter calls out.
“Tori, manners,” he scolds, and her little button nose crinkles. Caprice’s does the same.
“Do not have her call me ma’am or miss or anything like that.” CC kneels down to Tori’s level. “You can call me CC if you prefer. I don’t really like all the formal titles.” She shakes her head and Justin’s daughter nods as if agreeing with her.
Tori leans forward. “I don’t like being called Victoria either. It’s so long,” she says in a loud whisper as if trying to tell Caprice a secret. We all chuckle. Even Drago finds it humorous.
“I have to get to work,” I tell no one in particular. Turning, I scan the room, looking for my purse. After grabbing it from the couch, I pull the strap over my arm and turn back around, facing everyone. “I have a few things I need to handle before I head to the courthouse.”
“I hope they fry her,” CC says in a cold, hard tone.
“Fry who?” Tori asks.
“No one, Tor. Want to watch cartoons until we leave?” CC quickly asks, changing the subject. It works, and Tori nods her head up and down, excited.
“Summers,” I say, stepping toward Drago.
“Andrews,” he follows up, nodding goodbye.
Stopping in front of Drago, I look up, rising on my tiptoes and say in my low tone, “Text me the appointment information. If I have time after the hearing, I’ll go. If not, you get to reschedule. Deal?”
He leans into me, meeting my lips with his in a quick kiss.
