“Sorry, Ri.” I shook my head and focused on my sister. I’d gotten lost in my head for a moment there and had been walking on autopilot. “What did you say?”
“I asked why Daddy was so mad. He saidthe F word.” She stage-whispered the last part adorably. “Ash did too.” She looked up at him critically.
“I’m sorry, munchkin. I shouldn’t have said it.”
“It’s okay,” she said solemnly. “But why was Daddy mad at you?”
“No reason.” I knelt in front of her. “Nothing that you need to worry about.”
“Is it grown-up stuff?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” She pursed her lips and looked between us. “I want to wear my purple pajamas.”
“I don’t see them.” Ash looked up from the drawer he’d been rummaging through.
“The yellow ones?”
“Minions or Belle?” Ash held up two sleep shirts.
“Both.”
“How about the Belle shirt and the minion leggings?”
She nodded, grinning brightly.
“Come on. Time to brush our teeth.”
“Ugh. I thought you were going to forget.” She pouted.
“Nope.” Ash tossed her chosen pajamas onto the bed. “Keep that up, and someone will hang a bucket off your lip.”
I booped her protruding lip.
“You’re silly.” She lifted her arms above her head and got up on her tiptoes as she stretched. “Okay, jammies time.”
“Teeth. Now.” I pointed to the door.
“Boo.” She rolled her eyes dramatically as she stomped toward the door.
I followed her, my eyes catching Ash’s. A soft smile tilted his lips as he watched us.
I winked, then hurried after Riley. I didn’t trust her to get her toothbrush ready alone after the mess she’d made last night.
I wasn’t sure who stalled more at bedtime, Riley or us. We read six chapters in her book until she was fast asleep. We couldn’t put off the inevitable anymore.
“We’re not doing anything wrong,” I huffed.
“No, we’re not.” Ash led me out of Riley’s room. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
I sighed and fell into step beside Ash as we made our way to the living room.
Dad and Crystal were sitting on the couch together. Crystal had a glass of wine in her hand, and Dad had a tumbler filled with what looked like whiskey.
“Really?” He nodded to our clasped hands, a look of disgust on his face.
“How long?” Crystal put her wine on the table.