“Pack,” she says, the word soft on her tongue. “Wow.”
“Do you think I’m rushing into this?” I ask, the fear that always lives in my gut twisting tight. “Because it feels fast. It feels intense. And I have Maisie to think about.”
“Amber,” she says, her tone turning serious, dropping the playful teasing. “You spent years with a man who made you feel small. You raised a daughter mostly alone while dealing with trauma that would break most people. If three men want to treat you like a queen, and you want to let them? You aren’t rushing. You’re finally catching up to the happiness you deserve.”
Her words hit me in the chest, pushing the air out of my lungs. I blink rapidly, feeling the sudden sting of tears.
“Thanks, Norah.”
“I mean it,” she says firmly. “Now, tell me everything. But wait until I have more tea. I need fuel for this kind of gossip.”
Before she can move to brew a fresh cup, the bell above the door jingles.
I look out the display window. Jude’s truck is parked at the curb. The back door flies open and Maisie explodes out of the back seat, her backpack bouncing against her spine.
“Mommy! Mommy!”
She tears into the shop, her red glasses sliding down her nose. She looks manic, vibrating with an energy that makes the air around her buzz.
“Hey, bug!” I crouch down as she crashes into my arms. “What’s going on?”
“The debate is back!” she shouts, throwing her arms around my neck. “The snow melted enough! The principal said it’s on for next week! Next week!”
“That’s amazing news!” I squeeze her tight, breathing in her scent of snow and grape jelly. “I’m so proud of you. I know how hard you worked.”
“I have to practice my speech, though. I forgot some of it.” She pulls back, her eyes wide and pleading. “Can you come watch? Please say you’ll come. I need you there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I promise, smoothing her wild curls. “I’ll be there in the front row. I’ll even bring a sign.”
“Yay!” She giggles. “Good.” She bites her lip, looking suddenly shy.
“What is it, sweetie?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Is Fallon mad at me?”
I blink, confused. “Fallon?” She hasn’t seen him since the movie date we had that day, so her bringing him up is a huge surprise to me.
“Yes. He likes Harry Potter like me. And… I don’t know. You brought me lemon tarts from Eli but nothing from Fallon. And he’s the one I liked the most. So I thought maybe I did something and made him mad.”
I crouch down to her level. “No. Fallon isn’t mad at you. In fact, he asks about you a lot.”
“He does?”
I nod. The guys do ask about my daughter a lot, but I made it clear to them that I want to take things slow until I’ve had a conversation with my brother. I hadn’t realized the impact that would have on my daughter.
“Fallon and all my friends are very fond of you. Why wouldn’t they be? You’re smart and very kind. And you always think of everyone.”
She smiles at that. I’m still getting used to the gaps in her teeth. She’s so fucking adorable.
“Then can they come to the debate?”
“Absolutely, bug. They’d love that.”
“All of them, even Fallon. I want to talk to him about death eaters.”
