“You won’t believe this, but it’s a tie. I had them count it three times and count the number of people here,” Mom laughed. “I think that’s a win-win, so let’s go with it.”
“No! What about a tie-breaker?” Asher stood.
“We can talk about it tomorrow. Now get yourselves out there and have fun dancing.” Mom walked away.
“Chloe, care to join me on the dance floor?” I extended my hand to her. “I did promise to bring you back to the dance floor.”
“Go ahead. I’m tired, so I’ll hang here with Sophie.” Mia covered a yawn. “See? I told you so. Go on.”
“Since when are you tired at ten o’clock at night?” Chloe looked straight at Mia not leaving. “Usually I’m the one begging to go home.”
“Get out of here. My life is a little different these days, so I’m tired.” Mia shooed us away. “I mean it, go.”
“Looks like red dress is circling her prey,” Chloe said. “Don’t look left. If you look, she may attack.”
“I’ll take your advice. Should I lay down and play dead?” I took Chloe into my arms. “No wait, that’s if a bear is after you. She’s more of a lion.”
“I don’t know, she’s scarier than a lion, if you ask me.” Chloe looked around the room. “She seems have found someone else to dance with, and they are coming our way.”
“She’s gonna try to do a partner switch. It’s a thing she does.” I danced us to the far side of the floor.
The DJ announced last dance. “Hey, I’m having a great time tonight. I never get to do this kind of thing.” Chloe looked up at me, smiling. “Thank you.”
“I get to do this kind of thing way too much, and I don’t always get to have this much fun,” I replied. “I definitely never have a woman with me when I sneak into the kitchen for lasagna.”
“That’s another thing. Thank you for sharing that with me. I love Chef Harris.” Chloe leaned her head on my chest.
The dance ended and the lights turned up. Sophie was on Mia’s lap almost asleep. Chloe walked over and sat with Mia.
“Careful, Three, she’s going home. A far away home.” Murphy shouldered me. “Is she helping us deliver the baskets?”
“I don’t know, Sophie looks pretty tired.” I looked over to where Mia and Chloe sat talking.
“You should ask her,” Murphy suggested. “I’ve had a few too many tonight, so I’m going to go wait in the limo.”
I walked to the table where my family was gathering their belongings. “Chloe, would you like to join us at the hospital to deliver baskets?”
“I’d love to, but I really need to get Sophie to bed, but I enjoyed helping make them.” Chloe rocked a half-asleep Sophie on her lap.
“Ok, I’ll have my driver take you back to the Manor.” I pulled my cell out to text him.
“Trey, I’m beat too, so she can ride back in our limo. Parker is going with you to the hospital,” Mia said. “Could you do us a favor and carry Sophie to the car? It’s not fun to carry a kid in heels.”
“Gladly, but who’s carrying her upstairs back at the house?” I lifted Sophie to my shoulder.
“I can manage once we get there. By then I don’t have to worry about these heels,” Chloe sighed. “My feet hurt, but such a great night.”
I carried Sophie to the limo and waved to the girls as they drove away. Then I joined the family in the big limo.
Chapter 32
Chloe
Iwoke the next morning in the ginormous bed with Sophie snuggled within the zillion-thread-count sheets and fluffy comforter. I grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand. Seven a.m.
Too early. No way am I getting up yet.
I pulled the covers over my head and snuggled in once more. I’d struggled to fall asleep last night. The charity event had been the nicest party I’d ever been to, and dancing for a few hours was more physical activity than I’d done in at least a year. I should have been exhausted, but my mind scolded me for my own stupidity for letting Trey get into my heart so quickly.