“Very mature.”
“Speaking of mature, don’t you have to check out some old folks' homes? Get a stronger prescription for reading glasses? See your doctor about that pesky back pain?”
I suck my teeth. “Shut up.”
“No, you.”
“Really?” Beck looks between us with a sigh. “I can’t take you two anywhere. Rosie is so much more grown up than you.”
“She started it,” I reply coolly.
“As if.” Mollie stands up and brushes her knees. She looks over at Rosie, who is inspecting something in the grass. “Rosie, whatcha got?”
“A friend.” The little girl crouches, holding something trapped underneath her hands.
Beck’s head snaps to her, his dad senses activated. “Like a worm?”
“It’s a–” She freezes, jerks her hands away, and lets out the most terrifying wail. “Ow!! Daddy!!!” she cries, and immediately dissolves into hot, angry tears.
“Shit.” As Beck swoops in to grab Rosie, I hold my dog back and search for whatever bit her. A snake? A bat? I scan the ground, finally fixing on a black wasp. “Oh f– fudge. Beck, I think it was a wasp.”
Mollie grabs Gordie by the collar and hauls him away. The wasp suddenly takes flight and I jump back, leery. Poor Rosie continues howling as loudly as a four-and-a-half-year-old can. Big, wet tears roll down her face.
Beck bounces his daughter in his arms, soothing her. “We’re going. Moll, I know we were supposed to do dinner–”
Mollie shoos him away. “Don’t worry about it. Go take care of our girl.”
“Thanks. Thorne can make sure you get home okay.”
Her lips thin. I can feel her vibrate with the need to tell him that she doesn’tneedme to do anything. But she bites back her protest and smiles, nodding stiffly. “Love you!”
“Love you too.”
And then it’s just Mollie, Gordie, and me, standing awkwardly in the park.
I shove my hands in my pockets. She skewers me with her hazel gaze, her mouth balling up. “Sooooo.” She fidgets, taking a step back. “I guess I’m going to head out.”
“You headed home? We’ll walk you.”
Mollie side-eyes me as Gordie bumps her knee with his big head. “I really don’t want you walking me anywhere. But you’re with this guy, who I very much adore.”
“That’s what all the ladies say.” It’s a dumb thing to say and I regret it when Mollie glares at me.
“You are such a dork. God, I don’t know how you’re always waist-deep in one-night stands. Thank god you’re good-looking, huh?”
Picking up Gordie’s leash, I grin. “All I hear is that you think I’m a babe.”
“You’re annoying is what you are.”
“Yeah?” I flex my biceps. “Hockey Insta thinks I’m the hottest player in the league.”
She scoffs.Scoffs!“That was one poll from three years ago.”
“So you admit it.” My smile widens. “You’ve been stalking me for years and you’re finally ready to come clean.”
“Ohmigod.” She throws up her hands and walks away, leaving Gordie and me to follow. I don’t know what it is about this girl that just makes me want to tease her. Normally, I’m pretty smooth with women. At the very least, I’m nice. But something about Mollie makes riling her up irresistible to me.
Maybe it’s because I’ve known her since I joined the Seattle Havoc and met her brother five years ago.Itcouldbe a big brother thing… except her real big brother doesn’t tease her mercilessly.
