Page 81 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
Theo kindly grabs her empty flute so she can grab her purse. I notice the name “Andre” light up on her screen. She grins at her phone screen, like she’s giddy at whatever he’s written her.
She looks at us. “Excuse me for a moment.”
She walks off to the back of the restaurant, where the kitchen is. The door swings open and I see my dad in his signature crisp white chef’s jacket. He greets her with a wide smile that reaches his eyes. He leans down to pull her into a hug, and I instantly look away. I guzzle the rest of my champagne and try not to think about the flirty exchange between my parents—and the fact that my mom is currently smitten with the guy who broke her heart more than twenty years ago.
I shove aside the feeling and distract myself by chowing down on a delicious chicken satay skewer. My parents’ personal life isn’t my business.
“Is there any hard alcohol?” Tyler asks while loosening his tie.
“I think I heard your cousin say there’s vodka and gin,” Theo says.
Tyler makes a face. “Gross. Oh well.” And then he beelines for the bar and downs a shot of what looks like vodka.
I roll my eyes. “My brother is such a frat boy.”
“A hot frat boy, but yeah, definitely a frat boy.”
I spin around at the sound of Tori’s voice and see her standing next to me, looking gorgeous in a gold cocktail dress. I pull her into a hug.
“What did I tell you about commenting on my brother’s attractiveness?” I say to her.
She shrugs, her glossy bee-stung lips smirking. “Can’t help it. Your brothers are hotties. So are you.”
I let out a groan-laugh. For the next few minutes, we all chat until baby Evelyn starts to fuss. Millie and Peter frantically dig through their diaper bag.
“Where’s her pacifier?” Millie asks.
“I thought you packed it,” Peter says.
“I thoughtyoudid.”
“Crap. Maybe it fell out in the car. I’ll go check.”
Millie coddles baby Evelyn as she cries.
“Sorry guys,” she says, her cheeks flushed, clearly overwhelmed. “I know a crying baby isn’t the most fun sound in the world.”
Theo and I both tell her it’s okay.
“Here, let me look again in the diaper bag.” Millie moves to hand me Evelyn so she can dig into the bag. I tell her to hold on so I can set aside the plate and glass I’m holding, but then Theo swoops in.
“I can hold her.” He gently takes her in his massive hands. Evelyn’s big brown eyes go wide and she instantly stops crying as she stares at Theo, who’s cradling her with his hands under her arms, her chunky legs dangling in front of him.
Millie stares in shock at Theo. “Oh my god. You’re the baby whisperer.”
He lets out a nervous laugh. “I don’t know about that. I think she’s just surprised and the shock is holding off her crying for a bit.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll happily take it.” Millie chuckles. “I could use something a little harder than champagne. You mind holding her for a sec?”
She walks off before Theo can even answer her.
I move closer to him. “Sorry. I think Millie is just tired and happy not to be holding a crying baby for a few minutes.”
Theo smiles at me. “It’s okay. I’m good holding her for a bit.”
Evelyn’s unblinking stare hasn’t budged in the ninety seconds that he’s held her.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” I ask, taking in how he’s holding her in front of him, his arms bent.
