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‘I need to go back to work,’ I muttered, trying to make my way around her. Finally I could see again. And Charlie was now chattering away with my mom and Elijah. She just had no idea.
Beth fell into step next to me. ‘You’re a goner.’
‘What the hell does that even mean?’
‘Go take Charlie to the beach or something before Elijah rushes in and takes the prize. Bye.’
I lunged for her arm, but she danced away. ‘What? What do you mean? Do you know something?’ I stopped walking and dodged the crazed children as they ran past me, chasing after some girl Beth had hired who was about to paint their faces. I found my nosey sister walking backwards and giving me a satisfied grin.
‘First of all,’ I yelled after her as her grin widened, infuriating me further. ‘First of all, mind your own business.’
‘Second?’
‘She is not a horse to be called a prize.’ I ignored her laughter and started stalking towards her.
‘Third?’
She skipped just out of my reach. ‘Elijah isn’t taking anything from me.’
Right then I lunged forward and caught Beth’s arm as she opened her mouth to scream, most likely. I gave her a good reason and threw her over my shoulder.
Ivy came out of nowhere and ran around us laughing and yelling, ‘Do me, do me, Uncle Willie.’
My mouth twitched as Beth got creative with her word choices around her daughter. I didn’t hear half of them though, my eyes were just for Charlie as our gazes got caught in each other and she finally ignored Elijah. That was more like it. As soon as I was near their cosy little group, next to the food table, I not-so-gently slid Beth off my shoulder.
‘Promise to give you a longer tour than I just did your mom, Ivy, but later okay?’ I smoothed down her hair as she stared up at me with her big blue eyes. ‘We don’t want to make your friends jealous, right?’
I took the last few steps that separated me and Charlie and finally managed to put my hand on the small of her back. Her back arched to some extent, and I couldn’t help but slide my hand around her waist and rest my hand on the curve of it. I came eye to eye with Elijah and then watched as his gaze dropped to where my hand was resting.
Good.
‘What did I miss?’ I asked to no one in particular and felt Charlie shift from foot to foot, which brought her closer to me.
‘What’s happening with you two?’ Mom asked, studying Beth and then me.
‘Just…’
I didn’t give her a chance to finish her sentence. ‘Nothing. Charlie and I will have to take a break. We have some work we need to finish.’
‘Now?’ Mom pushed, looking around. ‘But I wanted to introduce Charlie to someone.’
Another call from Lindsey came in and I let it go to voicemail, as I always did. My brows furrowed. ‘Who?’
‘You remember Ally’s son…’
I dropped my arm from Charlie’s waist as Beth’s barely audible snort reached my ears. ‘Are you kidding me?’
Finally Mom focused on me instead of looking for whoever. ‘What?’
‘What’s wrong with all of you today?’
‘I wonder what’s wrong with you,’ Beth commented.
I ignored them all and offered my hand to Charlie. Everyone got quiet. Her gaze dropped down to my open hand, then up to my eyes.
‘I’ll take you to the beach.’
She didn’t think about it. She put her hand in mine and I curled my fingers around hers.
‘What time is it?’ She checked the watch on her wrist. ‘Isn’t the video call around four?’
‘We have a little more than an hour. Plenty enough.’
Ivy appeared out of nowhere with some whiskers over her upper lip and clasped her mom’s hand. ‘Mom, can we go to the beach too?’
‘Sweetheart,’ I cut in before Beth could respond. ‘This is just for me and Charlie.’
She tilted her head to the side and her brows snapped together. I’d find it more adorable if she wasn’t trying to squeeze herself in with us while I was trying my damned hardest to be alone with Charlie.
‘Why? Uncle Willie, everyone can go to the beach. We go to the beach with everyone all the time.’
I held back my groan, instead clenched Charlie’s hand a little tighter.
‘Yeah. Why, Uncle Willie?’ Beth added unnecessarily.
I gave her a long look that she should’ve recognized, but she didn’t back off. I turned my focus back on Ivy.
‘You’re gonna leave all your friends?’
She shrugged. ‘Sunny had to leave to visit her grandma.’ She smiled at Charlie and raised her chin up. ‘Sunny is my bestest friend.’
I surveyed the remaining kids over my shoulder. Sure enough, more than half of them had suddenly disappeared. I wanted to say no. I really wanted to spend a few quiet moments with Charlie, but it was Ivy’s birthday after all and everyone in our little circle was looking at me as if I’d sprouted an extra head, so I had to relent. ‘If you really want to then,’ I grumbled.
