Sophie (The Boss 8)

“Let me go scrub in,” El-Mudad said and headed off to the bathroom.

“I’ll find Molly. We can discuss dinner options,” Neil said and left before El-Mudad returned.

The water turned off in the bathroom, and a moment later, El-Mudad emerged. He glanced around and laughed. “He’s gone already?”

“Yup. My illness grosses him out.” My mind grabbed my sentence, and depression steered it right to the dark place. I shook my head. “Sorry. That was—”

El-Mudad sat beside me on the bed and pulled on some gloves. “He is not grossed out by your illness. He just doesn’t like causing you pain.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but El-Mudad didn’t let me get a chance.

“And don’t say he loves to cause you pain. It isn’t the same, and you know it. Even if I tease him about it.” He opened a new alcohol wipe. “Arm this time?”

“Yup.”

“Give me the thing.”

I handed over the applicator. “Locked and loaded.”

“Thank you.” He took it from me carefully. “I’m sorry your sister had to see my fight with Amal.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s seen fights before.” It hadn’t been the ideal welcome I’d hoped she’d receive, but there was nothing to be done about it now. “What was this one about?”

“Let’s save it for another time,” he said with a long exhale. “My blood pressure only just returned to normal. Okay, three, two, one.”

I winced in anticipation, though I’d gotten used to the jab now. It was way better than pricking my fingers several times a day. The mechanism clicked, and the needle was in.

“No blood this time?” I asked, peering backward over my shoulder as if I would be able to see it. I rolled my arm inward toward my body to try and catch a glimpse.

“Not this time,” he reassured me. “Come on. Let’s see what we’re having for dinner. I’m a little bit worried Neil would try to obtain moose steaks. He struggles to understand the Yooper way of life.”

We heard the activity in the kitchen before we even opened the door. Loud peals of girlish laughter battered through the walls. Inside, the echo was nearly unbearable.

Molly, Rashida, and Amal crowded around the island. Three cupboard doors were open, and an irresponsible amount of snack food was on the counter.

“Hey, guys,” I said casually, though I bristled at the idea of them consuming so much sugar and starch before dinner. That’s it. You’re officially old. But I couldn’t help myself. I kept imagining what the stomachache was going to be like.

“Rashida and Amal said it was okay,” Molly said quickly, setting down a bag of Cheetos.

“Since when do we have all of this?” El-Mudad asked, approaching the pile of junk food. He picked up a bag of miniature Reese’s cups and gave me a sharp look.

“Since your daughters started filling out grocery list addendums for the staff.” I held up my hands defensively. “That’s not mine.”

“Don’t make yourselves sick. That’s all I ask.” El-Mudad opened the bag and pulled out a handful.

Amal’s enthusiasm had taken a nosedive the moment her father entered the kitchen. “I’m going to my room.”

“You’re still hanging out with us tonight, right?” Molly called after Amal as she stalked toward the dining-room door.

Amal turned back and shot her a smile. “Of course. See you at dinner.”

Had they made plans?

Rashida gave her dad a critical look. “What did you do to her now?”

“I didn’t do anything,” he protested, then, seemingly remembering he was a father, took a stern tone. “And it’s none of your business what your sister and I are arguing about. Tend your own garden, as Neil would say.”

“Have either of you seen Neil?” I asked

Rashida gestured to the candy and chips scattered across the island. “Who do you think told us to get all this out?”

“And he’s ordering ice cream in for us tonight.” Molly’s eyes boggled. “I didn’t even know you could order in ice cream.”

“Grubhub is amazing,” I said weakly, knowing full well that he’d probably send someone off to bring over-the-top desserts on dry ice from miles and miles away. “So, you guys are....”

“We’re having a slumber party,” Rashida said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “It was Amal’s idea to welcome Molly.”

“Was it?” That was a surprise. Usually, a fight with her father would result in Amal retreating to her room and not speaking to anyone, not even her sister. I was going to have to thank her big time for making Molly feel so included.

On the other hand, Molly had just arrived, and already she was going off and having adventures without her big sister?

She must have read my slight disappointment. “You can hang with us if you want to.”

I shook my head. The smile I gave her was rooted deeply in my need to avoid anything that could make me feel old. Trying to pretend I understood their references to Korean pop would have been excruciating for my ego. “I want you guys to get to know each other. Molly’s going to NYU in the fall, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of her, I hope.”