Chapter 268
Chapter 268:
By the time we got to her house, her head was on my shoulder, and her eyeliner had transferred to my sleeve.
Getting her up the stairs was a bloody workout.
I managed to get her onto the bed without knocking over the lamp.
I sat down on the floor, catching my breath. My back was damp under my jumper.
My phone rang.
“Where’d you go?” Ashton said. “You’re not home p>
“I’m with Yvaine. She got wrecked. I’m staying here tonight.” I filled him in quickly and hung up.
A minute later, my phone lit up again.
Unknown number.
I stared at the screen, figuring it was Rhys calling from a new line. I ignored it.
I stood up and headed for the kitchen to grab some water.
The phone buzzed again. Same number.
I stepped into the hallway and pulled the door shut behind me before answering.
I expected Rhys. What I got was a woman’s voice.
“Hi, this is Gwendolyn Laurent p>
Huh, that was unexpected.
Gwendolyn was Ashton’s father’s wife, technically his stepmother. I’d met her once. I had no idea why she’d be calling me.
“Hello,” I said, trying to sound normal.
“Ah, Mirabelle!” Her voice was warm, unnaturally so. “I know it’s a bit late to be calling, but I wanted to get it done before I forget. Bit of a scatterbrain, you know p>
Explore magic at gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．c𝗈𝗺
She laughed.
I didn’t. I was trying to remember when I’d given her my number.
“Anyway, since you and Ashton have been married a while now, maybe it’s time we all sat down for a proper family dinner p>
Last time I’d visited the Laurents, Ashton hadn’t looked thrilled to be there. Gwendolyn kept talking.
“Ashton’s never been close to me. I got used to it. But his grandfather’s health has gone downhill, and no matter how many times we’ve called, he won’t come home. His father misses him. Edouard too. It’s been so long p>
I understood what she was getting at.
“If you want him to come for dinner, I can try bringing it up. But whether he agrees or not, it’s not up to me p>
“Don’t bring it up yet,” she said quickly. “If we ask him directly, he’ll say no. He always says no. Thinks it’s pointless.” She paused.
“Tomorrow’s the winter solstice. It’s also his birthday. I thought maybe we could use that as an excuse. Celebrate. Sit down together. Get things back on track p>