“Hey, you two put on a good show. Not just on the couch. Over by the pool earlier, too. Don’t think I didn’t see ya’ll.” Xander shifts the dog to the other arm and pours himself a glass of lemonade.
I can feel Rafe bristling beside me. “Do I need to remind you about the NDA you signed?”
“No, not at all. But I gotta say, you’d best not mess with my girls here.” He sets the dog down and folds his hands across his chest. “Either of them.”
Princess makes a beeline for us on the couch, barking up a storm. She then jumps up between us, effectively separating us with her furry self and looking at us both with what is frankly a very judgmental look.
“See,” Xander says, tilting his head toward the dog. “I wasn’t kidding. She doesn’t like either one of you paying attention to anyone but her.”
“Tough luck,” Rafe says.
And then the doorbell rings, and Princess hits the ground running.
“Stay where you are. I’ll get it. I want to see how she acts at the door,” Xander says, taking off after the dog.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeat the minute he’s gone, bracing myself for Rafe’s censure.
“Not at all.” Rafe threads his fingers through mine and squeezes. “I knew he was full of shit, figured something was up.”
“You knew?” I shake my head in disbelief. “Then why—”
“Because I wanted to kiss you,” he says. “I want to kiss you. No acting required.” He dips his head to kiss my neck quickly, pulling away just before Naomi and Orly come back in, followed by Xander and Princess. Orly leaps between us and curls into her father, sobbing.
“Abba!” She clings to Rafe.
Naomi is just standing there, arms folded.
“What happened?” I ask.
“She wanted to go in the pond,” Naomi says.
“Abba! Savta wouldn’t let me hug the fishies!” Orly knits her brows and stares angrily at her grandma. The front of her shirt is wet. I feel like I should get up, but she’s curled one little arm under my elbow, and she’s grabbed onto the pom-pom trim of my cover-up, which she is now rubbing against her snot and tear-filled face. This actually doesn’t bother me at all. I’m used to being drooled on. But I do wonder if I’m going to have to get the garment dry cleaned for Lorelei.
“Savta just wants you to be safe,hamuda,” Rafe says. “She doesn’t want anything to mess up the trip to Disneyland tomorrow. Aren’t you excited to go tomorrow?”
“Yes, but …” Orly looks from me to her father. “I want Lie Lie to come.”
Xander claps a hand over his mouth, taking it all in. Beside him, I notice Naomi watching us shrewdly. She’s no longer looking at her granddaughter, in fact. She’s looking at me.
“Lorelei is very busy, Orly. Why do you want Lorelei to come?” Naomi asks.
“Because she told me she’s never been to Disneyland, either.” Orly tugs on a pom-pom.
“Of course she has,” Naomi says, looking at me suspiciously. “Lorelei grew up in LA.”
“No, she’s like me. She’s never been.” Orly’s lip is quivering again.
Why had I let that information slip?
Naomi cocks her head. “I could have sworn that you and your mom had season passes.”
“I think she just meant that she hasn’t been there since they renovated,” Rafe covers for me. “But it’s not a terrible idea.”
“I think it’s a great idea!” Xander pipes up, reminding everyone that he’s still there. Naomi looks questioningly at him, and he stands up straighter. “Even numbers and all that. You never want to go to theme parks with an odd number in your party. Then someone would have to sit on some of the rides alone.”
“I don’t want Abba to sit alone,” Orly nods gravely. “Savta said I have to ride all the rides with her because Abba can take me to Disney any time.”
Naomi considers this. Her eyes sweep curiously between me and Rafe, finally settling on her granddaughter’s arms, wrapped around mine. “I do suppose it would make more sense to even out our numbers,” she says. “It would be lovely if you wanted to join us, Lorelei.”
