“I don’t think so.”
“Call if you need anything, okay?”
With a nod, I close the door before backing up and pulling out of the structure. The drive to school is filled with Elody’s excited chatter. She talks about her doll, stuffed rabbit, and what we’re going to do after I pick her up from school. That would be braiding Penny’s hair, coloring, and playing with her dollhouse.
Even though traffic is heavy, we reach school with a few minutes to spare. Elody slips her fingers into mine as we walk toward the brick building and then step inside. She pulls me toward a classroom door where a woman with a polite smile waits for us.
“Did you bring a special guest with you today?” she asks Elody, her tone bright and practiced.
“This is Kia,” the little girl announces. “She lives with us!”
Her teacher’s smile falters for half a second before snapping back into place. “Wow,” she says lightly. “That’s exciting.”
For just a moment, I consider clarifying the situation, but the way her curious gaze lingers has me deciding against it. My relationship with Laiken isn’t any of her business, and if he wants to address it, he will.
“I’ll be back at one,” I promise, crouching to hug Elody goodbye.
She squeezes me tight until I laugh. “Promise?”
“I absolutely promise.”
“Okay.” With that, she skips into the classroom without a backward glance.
As I straighten and watch her go, the weight of my new responsibility settles in. Strangely, it isn’t heavy or suffocating the way I expected. Instead, it’s steadying. Almost reassuring. Like I’ve landed exactly where I’m meant to be for the time being, even if I don’t quite understand how I got here.
That sense of rightness is unfamiliar enough to make me wary. I remind myself that this is a temporary situation and I’m living with a borrowed family. The real challenge won’t be finding my footing, it’ll be learning how to live with this little girl and her father without letting myself grow too attached.
As I step toward the entrance, Elody’s teacher calls after me, “Please tell Laiken I said hello.”
I force a polite smile. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
And just like that, my day begins.
14
Laiken
Knox drives his Maserati like he’s playing a game of Grand Theft Auto.
The vehicle sits low to the ground, all sleek lines and reckless arrogance, growling every time he punches the gas, which is far too often for my liking. I grab the handle above the door and brace as he blows through a yellow light that’s red by the time we hit the intersection. A horn blares behind us.
“I’d really like to make it to the arena in one piece,” I bark.
Knox grins, eyes locked on the road. “Relax, old man. Everything’s under control.”
“That’s highly debatable,” I mutter, tightening my grip.
With a laugh, he does the exact opposite of slowing down by stomping on the gas.
Two blocks later, flashing red and blue lights flood the rear window.
I drop my head back against the seat and swear under my breath. Knox sighs, as if he’s been mildly inconvenienced, before hitting the signal and pulling into the nearest parking lot.
“Don’t worry,” he says calmly, as if this is a routine pit stop. “I’ll take care of it. Happens all the time.”
I glare. “Why am I not surprised?”
He rolls down the window and flashes his trademark Knox McNichols smile, the one that usually leaves women swooning in his wake. “Morning, officer.”
