The responsibility of overseeing the club no longer looms over my head like a dark cloud, dampening my mood. I must remember to thank Gwen, once again, for lifting that weight off my shoulders. I don’t allow myself to think of Julian or the kiss and instead focus on more positive things. With my night now freed up, I decide to make plans with Thad.
Before I can call him, I hear a commotion and suspect that the newborns have grown bolder. I hurry down the hall to face the threat head on, only to find Jessica and Nicholas fighting to keep Jack from venturing further into the house.
“What is going on?” I roar above the noise. Everyone freezes and I walk past Jessica and Nicholas to confront Jack. “Can you explain why you are in my house causing a ruckus?”
“What is this nonsense I hear about Gwen taking over the club because you put the moves on that Julian guy?”
He’s fuming and barely able to contain himself. His eyes are light amber, almost gold. “Is this what you had planned all along? You get him to fall for you, get me kicked off the project and turn it over to Gwen, while you go gallivanting around with this guy?”
“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard and does not even dignify a response.” I can’t believe that we are having this same argument again. Dealing with Jack is like trying to play a broken record; once his groove is disrupted, you hear the same tired loop until someone lifts the needle and puts an end to it. “For the millionth time, if you have an issue with this, take it up with Aurelio and stop harassing me. Now, if you don’t leave, I am going to make you regret coming here in the first place.”
“I already do. I regret ever coming here to get your help and I am going to make you wish you’d never taken this away from me.” He storms out.
I am really getting tired of these ridiculous exchanges, but not even Jack is going to spoil my evening. To avoid further disruption or delay, I use the phone in the kitchen to call Thad.
“Hi Lila. I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight. I thought you’d be working.”
“I managed to get out of it. So now it looks like I have more free time than I know what to do with. Care to help me figure out how to occupy this newfound time?”
“Do you even need to ask?”
***
Over the next two weeks, I spend every night with Thad, while Gwen takes over at the club. The closer we get to Christmas, I decide to introduce Thad to the kids and he surprises us with tickets to go see ‘The Nutcracker’ at the NYC Ballet.
“I love ‘The Nutcracker’. Thank you.”
“I remembered that you like Tchaikovsky.”
“You’ve been taking notes,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him.
Elias and Sabrina take to Thad immediately. By the end of the evening, they are inviting him to spend Christmas with us. I agree and we make arrangements for Thad to spend Christmas Eve at our house.
YOU ARE READING
Lila's Choice
VampireThe first book in the Eye of the Vampire Series. Lila must choose between two men. One man offers her everything she's ever wanted in a partner and the other everything she never knew she did. Complicating matters further, Lila must deal with her je...
