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“Alright. Maybe,” Jesse says.
A moment later, Mikey is pulling out of view in his truck and we’re left with the little kids.
I kneel down in front of them. The little girl has bangs that were obviously cut by Mikey. They’re a little crooked and choppy. She has angel eyes with a tiny little mouth full of tiny little teeth. For some reason, she reminds me of those old Furby dolls. Adorable, but honestly a bit scary, too. “What’s your name?” I ask.
“Meemee,” she says.
“Amy,” the boy corrects in an annoyed voice. “Her name is Amy. She always gets it wrong.”
“Meemee!” she shouts. In the blink of an eye, her placid face has scrunched into pure rage and she looks ready to kill. She shoves the boy with both hands.
“Alright, you two,” Jesse says, sounding bored. He gets between them on his knees, using his long arms to keep them apart. “Play nice.”
I’m feeling the first hint of being in over my head, but I try to cover it with a smile as I look at the boy. He’s definitely the kind of kid who climbs trees, breaks bones, and probably will be breaking hearts in a few more years, too. “What’s your name?”
He has blue eyes and jet black hair. He folds his arms. “I’ll trade you. My name for your number.”
All I can do is raise my eyebrows and laugh. Maybe he’s a little older than eight. Nine or ten?
“Hey,” Jesse says. “Be respectful, Cade.”
“I am,” the boy sounds outraged. “Daddy says if you respect a girl, you get her number, take her on a nice date, and always use protection.”
I share a silent look with Jesse, then clap my hands. “Okay,” I say, smiling. “I think we’re getting side tracked here. Does anybody want to go to Jesse’s cabin? That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?”
“Whooo!” Cade shouts, fist pumping as he runs toward Jesse’s truck. He climbs on the rear wheel and tosses himself into the bed with a heavy thud, then his head pops up into view a moment later. “Wanna ride back here with me, Miss?”
“No, she doesn’t,” Jesse says, voice cold. “Up front or in the back, Meemee?”
Meemee looks up at me, clutching her hands together and twisting from side to side. She smiles, showing all of her tiny, straight teeth. “Are you a princess?”
I laugh. “Being a princess is a state of mind, Meemee. So, sure.”
“Wow,” Meemee breathes. “Then I’m a princess too. And I have sparkle power.”
“Princess of the sparkle turds, maybe,” Cade calls from the truck.
“Knock it off,” Jesse says. “And stay put back there. I’m not stopping if you fall out.”
Cade purses his lips in a yeah yeah kind of way that seems beyond his years, but then again, the words coming out of his mouth also don’t seem to belong with such a small kid. I can’t help wondering what sort of life these kids are living.
“Let’s blow this hot stand,” Meemee shouts as Jesse helps her up into the truck.
“It’s pop stand, Amy,” Cade calls.
“Meemee!” she shrieks.
The little girl positions herself between Jesse and me and then grabs my hand in hers, squeezing hard and smiling up at me once I’m inside. I grin over at Jesse. “They aren’t so bad, right?”
He shakes his head and starts the truck. “They’re just warming up. I hope the guys are back at the cabin. We’re probably going to need the help.”
19
JESSE
Nolan is in the kitchen when I walk through the front door with Andi beside me and Meemee fighting with Cade to get inside first. Mia is sitting in the kitchen again. She gives me a casual wave, but her cheeks go pink. “More cooking club?” I ask.
“Yeah, so?” Mia counters.
