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“No, because they won’t be here,” Margot says looking at me and then her father.
“Hey, lay off.” River, who’s sitting perpendicular to her, nudges her elbow with his.
“Whatever,” Margot mutters under her breath.
Sawyer, who’s sitting next to her, rolls his eyes. “Dude, chill. You’re so annoying,” he says before taking a sip of his water.
“You won’t be here?” Isla asks and I realize she didn’t put it together that Margot said ‘they’ in terms of me and her father.
“Ummm, no not tomorrow, but I’ll be back on Sunday.”
“Oh, okay.” She nods before turning back to her food and biting into one of her carrots.
“Can I be excused?” Margot asks.
“No,” Rowan says without looking up from his food.
“Why?” she replies in a sullen tone.
“Because we’re not done, that’s why,” Rowan says immediately.
“Go ahead,” River says to her and Rowan glares at him.
“Are you kidding?” he snaps at his brother and I’m actually surprised that Margot didn’t get up when her Uncle said she could.
“What? You think holding her hostage at the table is going to fix her attitude?” He rolls his sleeves up, revealing a bunch of tattoos on both arms and it’s so crazy that despite how similar they look, Rowan and River are so different.
“No, but I am not going to let her think that this behavior is acceptable. I’m not rewarding a temper tantrum,” Rowan says.
Margot’s cheeks turn pink. “I am sitting here, you know.”
Rowan turns his gaze to her. “Okay, I am not rewarding your temper tantrum.” While his voice is calm and even, I can hear a bit of an edge in his voice. He’s seated perpendicular to me at the end of the table so I slide my hand onto his knee and stroke it gently, trying to calm his nerves.
“Temper tantrum? You cannot be serious. I’m throwing a tantrum because I think this…” she says pointing between me and her dad, “is not a great idea? I’m so tired of having to be the responsible one. It’s like I’ve always said, I’m the one person they can count on.”
“Okay, first of all, I take offense to that,” River interjects, cocking an eyebrow at her.
Margot sighs and looks at him remorsefully. “You don’t live here, Uncle Riv.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t count on me. I’ve shown up for all of you every time you’ve needed me. So please, spare me the drama. Your dad and I worked hard so that most things didn’t fall on you. Yeah, some things did, that’s what happens when you’re the oldest sibling and I know your dad is so thankful he had your help, but throwing it in his face now, like you did everything and he just wasn’t around is not fair.” He stares at her hard. “Margot, you’re my girl and you know I will always be on your side, but I’m also going to tell it to you straight when you’re out of line. And I think you have a skewed view of what’s actually been happening around here.”
I look down at Isla who’s just watching what’s happening with wide eyes and a mouth full of food.
Margot’s anger seems to dissipate slightly before her eyes turn to her brother. “And you’re just cool with this?”
“Cool with what? What’s changed? Ellie was living here before and she’s still going to live here.”
“Because if they break up, she willnotlive here anymore. Am I speaking a foreign language? Why is no one understanding my concerns? Because what happens then?”
“We move on! Jesus, Margot. Not everyone and everything falls apart after a breakup. Remind me to stay away from you if you ever wise up and dump that loser, you’re too good for,”SJ says before taking a bite.
“Shut up,” Margot growls, but I admit, part of me is glad he ended that dig with something slightly supportive.She really could do better than that guy.“I meant what happens with…” She looks at me. “The only person at this table that doesn’t know what’s going on. She isnotgoing to move on that easily.”
I look down at Isla again and notice that now she’s not paying attention to us at all.
“Can you let us worry about that?” Rowan says. “I love that you are so protective of your siblings, but in case you forgot, I am too.”
I’m in awe the second we pull up to the stunning lake house we have for the night. We’d driven out to Virginia, about forty minutes from home, and I’m so excited to spend a night alone with Rowan. “This is gorgeous. Where’d you find this?” I ask as he helps me out of the car.