An old favorite we both love because who doesn’t enjoy a globe-trekking penguin pen pal? Only, the Baja part jabs me now.
One more dream of Clee invading our little world.
When I get back inside after loading her stuff, Kit’s hugging her.
“I hope you’ll miss me,” she says.
“Obviously.” She boops Kit on the nose. “I’ll make your dad send some pics of the egg once everything’s settled.”
My daughter’s face lights up, and fuck, I’m so sick of pretending.
Like my heart doesn’t die at the sight of this.
This is for the best, you sappy idiot. The best medicine always hurts going down.
“I don’t like leaving you in the house alone,” I tell Cleo as Kit runs down to the car.
“Nothing’s going to happen. You’ll be gone for, what? Like half an hour?” Cleo’s face shuts down again as she faces me, arms folded. “Don’t fret so much. I’m not Margot. I promise you lightning won’t strike twice. This house isn’t out in the sticks and we haven’t pissed off any creepy farmers or psychos with an ax to grind.”
She rips the words right out of my mouth, so confidently I almost laugh.
“Keep the doors and windows shut. If anything happens, you call me. And the cops. Call both ASAP.”
“I know, I know. I’ll live.” She nods briskly. “Go get your daughter settled. In the meantime, I won’t go out for a jog and get kidnapped by any evil Russians.”
“Better not,” I clip. “Don’t have time to save your disobedient ass before the meeting in New York.”
The corner of her mouth tilts slightly—a slip she chases back.
“Take your time. Don’t rush.” She leans in like she’s about to go in for a kiss, or even just a hug, then freezes.
We both do.
I can smell her apple blossom aura. More caustic to my lungs than breathing inside a volcano.
Acid on my soul, an instant memory of how incredible it felt to take apart this forbidden fruit with my teeth.
For a second, she throws me a startled look, her eyes dark and lips parted.
We share the same thought. She’s just as deprived.
I’m not sure who stumbles back first.
“Bye,” she says, right before she slams the door in my face.
I stay planted where I am for one more second, taking time to compose myself before heading down to where Kit waits.
I know I’m being paranoid, but I hate leaving Cleo alone in the house, even if she won’t have her cousin’s bad luck.
Nothing’s happened since she moved in. The mercs who broke into the Blackthorn estate either fucked off or decided it’s too risky to try again, if they have any clue where we fled.
Logically, I know she’ll be fine.
I’m only a few minutes away. I won’t be gone long.
That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Kit leans over my shoulder as I strap myself into the driver’s seat. “You should’ve brought her along to say hello to Gramps and Grammy.”
