“Do you want a glass of wine?” Meg asks Charly.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“Movie star, grab us a glass for Charly. So, you’re the girl who finally tamed my baby brother.”
“Hey! Who says I’m tamed?” I put the wine glass down and pick up the bottle, pouring some into the glass for Charly.
“Thanks,” she says to me, picking it up and taking a sip.
I rest my arm around her shoulder.
Meg is staring at us with a big smile on her face.
“What?” I say to her.
“Nothing.”
“You’re acting weirder than usual, Nutmeg.”
“You just look so adorable together.” She presses her hands to her chest.
“And, on that note, we’re going to say hi to Dad and Vic. Come on, Pins.” I reach for her hand, helping her off the stool.
“Oh my God, you have a nickname for her! That’s so sweet! Did you hear that, Mom? Vaughn has a nickname for Charly. It’s so cute.”
“Run,” I whisper into Charly’s ear. “Before she starts getting out Sasha’s bridal magazines for us to take a look at.”
Charly looks at me. There’s a beat of hesitation in her eyes, which she quickly covers with a smile. And, as we make a hasty exit from the kitchen and away from my overly romantic sister, I wonder where the hesitation came from, but before I can think too much about it, the second we step outside, we’re under attack from Jester. Well, Charly is. He practically leaps into her arms. She giggles, cuddling him, while he licks her face.
I think Jester’s in love. He’s not the only one.
Wait.
What?
Charly
“Megs, do you remember when Vaughn was obsessed with Bugsy Malone?” Sasha says with a smile on her face.
We’ve just finished dinner—or I should say, a feast of epic proportions—and I’m stuffed to the rafters. I won’t need to eat for another week. Vaughn’s family has been telling me funny stories all night.
The meal and company have been amazing. I’ve had such fun. Although I do keep catching Vaughn staring at me with this odd look in his eyes. One I’ve never seen before.
“Oh my God, yeah!” Meg laughs.
“Oh God, no,” Vaughn groans from beside me.
I glance at him, but he’s too busy giving his sisters the evil eye across the table.
“He used to make us watch it with him all the time,” Sasha tells me.
“It is a great film,” I say. “Maybe being an actor was in your blood all along, not just a happenstance.” I nudge his elbow with mine, and he smiles warmly at me.
“Yeah, but not only did he used to watch it daily, he also used to get us to watch it with him. We’d have to dress up like the characters and perform the musical routines,” Meg adds.
“Aw, I bet you made a cute Bugsy,” I say.
“Not Bugsy!” Sasha laughs.
“I’ll feed your wedding dress to Jester,” he says to Sasha. “And I’ll make sure it’s not fixable this time.”
“Ha!” Sasha laughs. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.” He narrows his gaze at her.
“Children,” his mom chastises.
“Well, I have nothing to lose,” Meg says quickly. “Vaughn didn’t dress up as Bugsy. No, he insisted on being Tallulah every time! He used to get Mom’s dresses and shoes and put them on! He even wore lipstick!”
“Oh my God!” I laugh.
Vaughn picks up a roasted potato off his plate and throws it at Meg. She ducks, and it misses her.
“You’re such a see you next Tuesday.” He frowns at her, but I can see that he’s also fighting a smile.
“Mama, why is Uncle Vaughn saying he’s going to see Aunt Meg next Tuesday? He’s seeing her right now,” Nora asks innocently.
“Yeah, Tallulah, why are you going to see me next Tuesday?” Meg teases him.
Vaughn scratches his forehead with his middle finger. Meg sticks her tongue out at him.
I swear, he and his sister act like kids around one another. It’s funny to watch. And it makes me wish that I’d had a sibling growing up. But I have Nick, and that’s all that matters.
“Uncle Vaughn’s just being silly,” Sasha explains to her daughter, giving Vaughn a dirty look.
He just smirks at her.
“We have some photos of Vaughn dressed up as Tallulah,” his mom says.
“No, we don’t. I burned them,” Vaughn says.
“Don’t tell lies, Vaughn. You never burned them. I know exactly where they are.” His mom gets up from the table. “I’ll go get them now before we have dessert, so Charly can have a look. I’ll get your baby photos, too.”