Page 33 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
My nephew was having the time of his life, and Rafe and I chuckled. I glanced at Sabine.
“Will you excuse me for a moment?” I asked, and part of me hoped she would move on to someone else while I was gone.
“Of course. I’ll be waiting right here for you.” She crossed one leg over the other and licked her lips.
Rafe’s eyes widened, and he stood up beside me. “I’m going to grab my bride out on the dance floor.”
Sabine was unfazed. She was eating cake when Lulu’s mother walked over to speak to her.
I held Melody on my hip and joined everyone on the dance floor.
We were having a good time, and we stayed out there for three or four songs, until we were all overheated and ready for a drink.
“Why don’t I take Melody back to the room, and you stay and enjoy yourself?” Winnie said.
“You tired, baby?” I asked my daughter.
“I’m tired, but I’m having the super-most fun ever. But my tummy doesn’t feel so good.” Melody yawned, her eyes barely open as she rested her cheek on my shoulder.
“All right. I’ll walk you both upstairs and get you settled.”
“I’m fine to take her,” Winnie insisted, but I shook my head no. I wanted to make sure they made it upstairs safely.
I stopped by the table where my parents were sitting and let them know I was taking Melody upstairs. They both kissed her cheek and told her they’d meet her for pancakes in the morning, and my mom gave Winnie a big hug and thanked her for the millionth time for being here.
We stopped at the table where Sabine was sitting. A group had gathered around her, so I didn’t feel too bad about leaving her on her own.
“My little girl is exhausted, so I’m going to walk her and Winnie upstairs,” I said, and she turned to look at me before directing her attention to my nanny.
“Isn’tshecapable of taking her to the room by herself?” Her tone had a bite, which caught me off guard. I didn’t know Sabine well enough to know if that was the norm, but it was out of left field and out of line.
“I, er, I offered,” Winnie said defensively, her eyes glancing between the two of us, obviously trying to figure out what was up.
“I would like to take my daughter upstairs and put her to bed,” I said, my words coming out harsher than I meant them to, but I didn’t appreciate the way she’d spoken to Winnie.
“Fine, Archer,” she snipped.
What the fuck was this about? I barely knew this woman. I was at my cousin’s wedding. I had my daughter with me.
She was acting like we’d arrived at this wedding together and I’d ditched her for another woman.
I motioned for Winnie to follow me, and we walked out of the ballroom, making our way to the elevators. No fucking way I was coming back down here. Sabine had just shown me who she was, and I didn’t like it.
“Seriously, I’m more than happy to take Melody upstairs by myself,” Winnie said as she reached for my daughter. “You don’t need to escort us.”
“I don’t feel so good, Daddy,” Melody moaned. Her head popped up just as the elevator doors closed.
Before I could respond, projectile vomit had left her lips, and she doused the elevator in puke. She heaved three times before bursting into a fit of tears.
Fuck.
Winnie took her wrap from her shoulders and dabbed it along Melody’s mouth and chin, cleaning up her little face. “You’re all right, sweet pea.”
The elevator doors opened, and thankfully, someone in a uniform was standing there. I stepped off and explained that my daughter had just gotten sick, and he told me not to worry about it. The guy immediately called someone on his walkie-talkie and stepped on the elevator.
Melody was crying hard now, and Winnie pushed the door to our suite open and hurried toward my bathroom. “How about I run her a bath and get her cleaned up.”
“Thank you,” I said as I carried my daughter to the bathroom while Winnie started filling the tub. “Do you need to throw up some more?”
