She laughs softly and rushes off with Sire on her tail.
When I hear Sage’s voice, I look over to find her leaning over to pet the dog again. I shake my head at how much her dress rises, and you can’t see anything, but either way, I walk over and pull it down.
She leans back up with a smile, and I pull her in for a hug. I already feel my energy draining, and we haven’t even been here that long, but there are just too many of them. I have no idea how I’m going to last the whole night talking to everyone.
“You okay?” Sage looks up at me and I give her a nod before giving her a quick kiss.
“Can we leave after we eat?” When her shoulders slouch, I kiss her cheek and tell her to forget it. “We can stay however long you want.”
“We were going to play a game after dinner.”
That sounds like torture.“Fun.” I give her a smile, but her knowing look genuinely makes me laugh. “What game?”
She shrugs before telling me August chose, and now I’m certain it’ll be torture, but Vidia calls us over to the dinner table before I can respond. Lisette sits at the head of the table after Sire voices he wants to sit there, and she’sofficiallymy favorite out of Sage’s siblings.
August and Sire end up sitting next to each other with their girls across from them. Sage sits next to Vidia, and the only options left are across from her, next to Sire, or next to her at the head of the table, so naturally, I chose the ladder.
They talk about the upcoming holidays, and I eat in silence or watch Sage whenever she comments on something. She didn’t serve a lot of food on her plate, but she laughs, and eats likeshe isn’t going to have a hard time with this meal, so I don’t comment on it, especially since she had such a good breakfast.
The topic of holidays lands on New Year's, and I eat in silence as they go on about throwing a big party since this is the first New Year that Sire and Vidia are together, and I don’t know what they’re talking about since I could’ve sworn they've been together since college, but I don’t question it.
“What do you think, Lee?”
“Hmm?” I glance up at Sage, and she nods towards the table.
“The color theme for this year's New Year's. I said green, white, and gold.”
I tell her that will be cute, but a crease grows in her brows as she turns her head to the side.
“It doesn’t seem like you agree.” She laughs softly, but I only shrug in response.
“Do you not like New Year's or something?”
I know Sire is just trying to get under my skin, so I don’t reply, but Sage keeps her eyes on me, so I give her my response. “I don’t celebrate New Year, but I think the colors you chose would be great.”
“Why don’t you celebrate New Year?” Sire voices, and heseverelyneeds to stop talking to me.
“I just don’t.”
“Why?” He pushes.
“I don’t see the point in counting down and screaming for a new year. We get a new one every twelve months without fail, no need to celebrate it.”
“I disagree.” Sage smiles at me but is clearly confused. “It’s a day to celebrate our year's worth of achievements and welcome a new chapter.”
“I disagree,” I mumble, but, of course, her brother hears.
“What do you think it represents?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, it’s a holiday.” Lisette sort of laughs as if I’m wrong.
“It isn’t for me.”
“Why?” Sire digs once again.
I drop my fork and pull in a deep breath. When my eyes meet Sire’s, it’s obvious he can tell he got under my skin, and I almost get up to walk away, but Sage puts her hand over mine, so I turn to look at her instead.
