“Ladies,” he greets us, panting just a little. “Can I help with something?”
Chapter Eleven
LUC
Damn.I meant to get back here before Millie came home. After what happened this morning, I feel like I should be around until she’s okay with Sam and Donner. But when the lightning started, the crew at the Sterling’s needed help packing up equipment, and that held me up.
But as I look at each Delacroix sister, it hits me I’ve interrupted something. The way the younger one is glaring at me, I’m pretty sure it has to do with the kitchen demo. “Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s fine—” Millie stops, eyes fixed behind me. “Shit. Emmett’s bus.” And then she’s pushing the QX80’s door wide and wrestling with a giant green and white umbrella.
“Here, let me,” I say reaching for it.
She’s struggling to get both herself and the umbrella out of the cab at the same time, and I grab it.
“I’m already soaked.”
“But—” She gives me an exasperated expression and lets go. I take off down the driveway, rain like a hail of bullets pelting against my already drenched clothes. I reach the bus as the door flaps open, and I deploy the umbrella just in time for Emmett to hop underneath it.
He looks up at me under its green and white shelter. “You’re pretty fast.”
I grin down at the kid. “Where do you thinkmi hermanogets it?”
Emmett smiles, but as he does, the rain lashes both our pant legs. “We should probably get inside before we drown.”
Before my eyes, the kid’s smile collapses. He stares at me, saucer-eyed, for three whole seconds, and then he takes off running.
“Hey,” I call after him, giving chase, thrusting the umbrella ahead of me to keep him covered. It’s a bad job, and we both splash into the garage dripping.
Emmett crashes into Millie, wrapping his arms around her middle and burying his face in her stomach. I glance at Mattie, baffled, but she looks just as confused as I am.
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Millie asks softly, stroking her little brother’s wet head. He just shakes it, refusing to pull away. She looks up at me, frowning. “What happened?”
I shake my head. “I-I have no idea. He was fine, and then he just—”Flipped out. Freaked out. Lost it.These are the words that come to mind, but I don’t think they’d be too helpful.
She dips her head to his. “Did something happen at school?”
He shakes his head again, and I see his arms tighten around her. And Millie seems to give up searching out the cause and just squeezes back, wrapping him up in her arms, swaying, just a little, from side to side.
It looks like it would feel really nice.
I see the kid’s shoulders ease, comfort making its way through his body. But then she kisses the top of his head and turns to lay her cheek against it, and I see the worry pressed to her brow. And it makes me wonder.
Who holdshertight? Whose arms does she run to?
Her eyes meet mine. I realize I’m staring and quickly look away. Groaning, squeaking noises are coming from inside the house, so I excuse myself and head up the steps. Inside, I find Donner and Sam walking the old Kenmore stove toward the door like a couple of idiots. The noise is grating.
“Dios mío,use the dolly, would you?”
Donner shoots Sam anI told you solook, and Sam ducks his head.
“It’s in the trailer,” he says, sheepishly.
“So go get it.”
My two guys exchange glances again before Sam releases the oven and turns to go. I hold up a hand.
“Wait. What am I missing here?” I demand.
