Drew cocked his brow in a way that looked like a challenge. “But she’ll need the practice if she’s going to beat us next time.” He turned to Sierra and held up his hand for a high five.
“There are three hundred and ninety-two.” I gave Sierra my tickets. “Choose your prize wisely.”
Her eyes widened. “Thanks, Mom.”
I followed her to the glass case that held bins of some of the smaller prizes, the larger ones hanging on the wall behind the employee exchanging tickets for prizes.
I felt a person behind me and somehow knew without a doubt that Drew had followed. How did I know it was him, though? Was it weird to be attuned to his presence? I could no longer claim to not stand the guy. Would even offer my thanks for this outing once I knew I could stomach the cocky, self-assured grin he’d respond with. But none of that explained this sort of sixth sense I had when he was around. This knowing of his location when we shared a space, even when I couldn’t physically see him.
Like now.
The hairs on my arms stood on end as if an electrical charge pulsed through the air around me. Drew had taken a step closer. I could feel his body heat at my back.
My spine straightened, and I stood perfectly still.
“But Mommy, I really, really, really want the Elsa dress. Pleeease.” A little girl about five years old stood with her mother at the glass case, her hand outstretched to the ice-blue costume hanging on the far wall.
“The dress is over seven hundred tickets, Penny. And you only have about two hundred.” Her mom smoothed out her daughter’s braid. “You can save what you have and get the dress when you earn enough.”
“They go pretty quickly,” the unhelpful employee stated.
Someone needed to teach the guy hownotto incite a tantrum.
The little girl’s lip quivered, and her mom sighed a tired sigh.
“Here,” Sierra piped up. “You can have mine.” She held out her cache of tickets.
The mom shook her head. “Oh, we couldn’t possibly—”
But Sierra pushed the tickets to her and smiled at the girl. “You’ll be the prettiest Elsa ever.”
She blushed and tucked her chin. “Thank you.”
Warm breath fanned across my cheek as Drew’s lips brushed the tip of my ear. “You’re a great mom. And you have an equally great kid there.” He pulled away, and somehow I stumbled without even taking a step.
Sierra pivoted, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. I righted myself and pulled her to me in a side hug. “I’m proud of you.”
She looked up at me. “I just did what you would do, Mom.”
I wasn’t completely failing. Relief lightened the weight of guilt I’d been feeling. Maybe my baby acted too serious and grown up for an eight-year-old, but she was also kind and caring. We could always work on the laughing more—like we did today.
“Now that we’ve all had our fun, are you guys ready to get some work done?” Jocelyn adjusted the strap of her off-the-shoulder blouse.
“How’s the dress coming along?” Ben asked in a conspiratorial tone.
Molly gasped and swatted his arm. “You know the groom isn’t allowed details of the wedding dress.”
Ben pushed out his bottom lip, and we all saw where Chloe learned her pout. “Not even a hint?”
“Just know your bride will be beautiful.” Jocelyn backed Molly up on keeping the dress details a surprise.
Ben got that love-sick goofy look on his face. “She always is.”
Amanda awed, and Betsy made a gagging noise.
“You guys are going to sew after this?” Drew asked.
Jocelyn nodded. “We need to get some work done to finish on time for the wedding.”
