Only With Me (With Me #2)(82)

Staring up at me, she shook her head. "Sweetheart, if you could get down, you'd be down by now. Katerina is bringing Dimitris, he'll help."

"How do you know Katerina?" I asked.

Laughing, she said, "We met when Nic moved in. Such a nice woman."

My shoulders dropped and I made my way over to Charity. Dropping down next to her, I put my head on her shoulder and looked out to the mountains.

"It's a pretty view, isn't it?"

Charity sighed. "Yeah. It's beautiful."

I wasn't sure how long we sat there staring out to the west before we heard Katerina's voice calling up at us.



       
         
       
        

Dropping onto my back, I let out a long groan. "I'm never going to live this down. Ever."

Suddenly, a loaf of bread was thrown up on the roof. Turning our heads, we stared at it.

Charity turned back to me and asked, "How the fuck long does she think we've been up here?"

Laughing, I got up and walked over to the edge, but not too close.

"Oh. No."

"How many people are with her?"

I glanced back over my shoulder to Charity. "There are at least three Maria's, Aunt Agnes, cousin Angie, and Phoebe. With the baby!"

She covered her mouth to hide her laugh. "It's not funny!" I stated as I giggled myself.

"So much for keeping this from Nic," she chuckled.

"Eat the bread! It will give you energy!" Katerina called up.

Focusing back on the group, I said, "Katerina, we've only been up here for a little bit. I think we're good in the food department."

"Charity needs to eat! For the baby!"

"Oh, dear God she's screaming out my name for the whole world to know!"

My breath caught in my throat when I saw Dimitris and Thad pull up. Jumping out of the car, Thad looked up and started laughing. I shot him a dirty look and walked back over to Charity.

"The whole family is showing up."

Her eyes about popped out of her head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean Thad just showed up with Dimitris. Nic and Cole have to know by now."

As if on cue, both of our phones rang.

"I'm not answering it!" Charity cried out.

"Oh, stop being a baby. Answer it because if you don't, Cole will be here next."

We both answered at the same time and said the same exact thing.

"Hey, babe. What's up?"

I covered my mouth to hide my laugh as Charity rolled her eyes but smiled.

"I don't know. You tell me what's up?"

Shrugging, as if he could see me, I replied, "Not much. I'm sitting here chatting with Charity."

"Uh-huh. That's it?"

Thad popped his head up over the ladder and grinned like a silly fool.

"Hey, girls."

Lifting my hand, I answered, "Hey, Thad."

"I see my brother made it up to you guys."

With a sigh, I responded, "Is nothing kept a secret in this family?"

Thad lost it laughing as did Nic.

"Put Thad on, baby."

I handed Thad the phone. He winked and started talking to Nic.

"Yeah. Right. I know. I will. Okay. Well, things were looking okay until the news showed up." 

"The news!" I practically screamed.

Thad chuckled. "I'm kidding. They're not here. Yet."

Charity had a look of pure horror on her face.

"Cole, I need to go. I love you."

She pushed her phone back into her pocket, marched over to the edge of the house, grabbed the ladder, and before I knew it, she was heading down.

"How did she do that?" I asked.

Thad handed me my phone back. I mindlessly put it in my back pocket. "Nic's still on the line."

"Oh shit!"

"Nic?"

"Thad's going to help you down."

Chewing on my lip, I shook my head. "I don't think I can do it, Nic."

"Yes you can. He's going to help you. I promise if you got up, you can get down."

I took in a shaky breath. "O-okay. I love you."

"Love you too."

It wasn't lost on me I could hear the smile in his voice. He was laughing at me.

"I'm going to go do this now."

"Okay. Be careful. See you soon."

Nodding, I said, "Kay. Bye."

"See ya later, agapiméni."

I hit End and looked at Thad. "I can't do it."

"Yes you can."

Peeking over the edge, I asked, "Can I just like jump into the bushes. Or maybe you can hold my hands and help me get to them."

For as long as I live, I would never forget the look on Thad's face as he stared at me with disbelief.

"You want me to drop you into the bushes rather than help you down the ladder?"