“I love you, too.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Colin made waffles.
Not just waffles—chocolate-chip waffles with powdered sugar and sliced strawberries and a side of perfectly cooked bacon.
Arden brought Juni back at eight-thirty, still in her pajamas, Camo escorting her. She took one look at the kitchen, said “Waffles!” with a volume that should have been illegal before nine a.m., and climbed into her chair without breaking stride.
“I promise I fed her breakfast already,” Arden said, laughing.
Maren laughed. “She always has room for waffles. Stay for breakfast?” she asked as casually as she could.
But Arden was no dummy. She took one look at Maren and Colin. “Thank you, but I have a ton of chores to do back home.”
Yup. The knowing smile Arden gave her told Maren they weren’t fooling her.
Damn, and I spent so long trying to fix my sex hair.
After Arden left, Maren stood in the kitchen doorway in Colin’s flannel shirt and her own tee and jeans, coffee in both hands, watching the two of them. Colin slid a plate in front of Juni, who immediately began arranging her strawberries in a pattern that required serious concentration.
It was watching Colin tousle Juni’s hair without even thinking about it that got her.
This,Maren thought.This is what it’s supposed to look like.
Colin glanced up and caught her watching. He walked toward her and paused at her side.
“Sit down, babe,” he said quietly in her ear. “Yours is almost ready.” He continued into the kitchen.
After she got the shivers under control, she took a seat at the table.
Maren was on her second waffle and Juni was explaining at length how Camo was two dogs in one because he was a chimera, when Colin’s phone buzzed beside his plate. As he picked it up, Maren felt the air go tense.
“Boss.” He paused. “Yeah.” Another pause, longer. “How long ago?” His gaze moved to Maren. “Give me twenty minutes.”
He set the phone down slowly, shattering Maren’s illusion that everything was fine, this was normal and wonderful and would continue.
Juni looked up from her mostly empty plate, sensing something in the air. “Is everything okay?”
Colin looked at Maren for a moment. Then at Juni.
“Hey, Bug. How would you like to go back to Aunt Arden’s for the day? I bet Camo misses you already.”
Juni’s smile was ever so slightly hesitant. “Okay.” She looked at Maren.
Maren’s stomach dropped. “You can help Aunt Arden with the alpacas and feed the barn cats.”
Juni brightened. “Camohatesthe barn cats.” She launched into a story about how they disappeared whenever he came into the barn but he barked at the air anyway. Her voice was far away as Maren’s gaze locked with Colin’s.
“Why don’t you go brush your teeth and then I’ll help you change your clothes, sweetie. By the time you’re done, Aunt Arden should be here.”
“Okay.” Juni jumped down from her chair and ran for the bathroom.
“Kyle needs us at Watchdog,” Colin said the moment she was out of earshot.
Us.
Notme.NotI’ll be back in a couple hours.
