“My case? Yeah… notmycase.”
“Let’s keep it that way, huh?” He crossed his arms. “Where’s your bodyguard?”
“She’s right here,” I said, pulling Katie in front of me.
“I see. Where’s Hunter?”
“Probably on the bike trails. Which reminds me, I’m not supposed to be here.”
His eyebrow twitched at that.
“You know, safety… murders… He doesn’t want me to leave the house without him. Hey, you’re coming to the party, right?”
“I really don’t want to, but I guess it’s kinda mandatory to this whole friendship thing, isn't it?”
“No. I mean… you don’thaveto come… but it would mean a lot. I really need help with my family. If nothing else, come in uniform so you can split up the domestic disputes.”
He blew out a breath. “Fine, but it’s my night off, and domestics will have to be handled by someone else.”
“Eeeeheeeheee—yay! Thank you!” I leapt into his arms before I could even think about it, my hands locking around his neck—and for that split second he was all I saw.
I could see the pain behind his eyes, but he smiled down at me anyway, kissed me on the forehead, and set me down. “I’ll be there.”
“Great! Seven pm Friday night, but we’ve really gottascoot. I need to get back before Hunter, and I still have to get to Elsie’s. Say, what’s your favorite holiday treat?”
His expression tightened, determination settling in on his brow. “That’s really not necessary.”
“Fine, I’ll just get Linda to tell me on the way out.”
He rolled his eyes and took another sip of cider.
Katie popped her earbuds in and gave Graham the cold shoulder, turning to examine the display of stuffed Tomten Linda made.
Shit! I was going to get one of those. Linda told me about them and how it took her weeks to get the little beards to stay on.
“Nathan!” I hollered over to the boy who’d quickly taken to teasing his brother with the ten-dollar bill.
“Coming!” he yelled as he flipped Jake’s nose with the bill and jogged over to me. “What is it, Maggie?”
“Do you think you could add the big Tomten—the one with the flannel hat—to my bill, please.”
“Sure thing!” He quickly pulled down the plush gnome from the ladder display and held him out to me. “This one? He’s forty.”
Katie took the gnome and hugged it like a small child would.
“That’s the one.” I handed him the cash. “Thanks, bud.”
Katie turned to me with a smirk. “You know, Maggie, if you squint your eyes it’s a spitting image of that Grinch over there when he’s had too much of Santa’s nog.” She jabbed a thumb in Graham’s direction.
Graham didn’t flinch; he just stared straight ahead at me from under his brow with a look of disapproval. I knew that look. It wasn’t judgment. It wasn’t hatred. It was more… annoyance than anything, but the kind of annoyance a big brother would have for his little sister. The kind that said,I love you, but you’re pissing me off.
Katie continued mocking him, playing with the stuffed Tomten like it was a gnomely officer. “Halt, you’re under arrest.” She made the stuffy hold out its hand to plush penguin still on the ladder, then picked up the penguin. “No… you’re under arrest!” Then like a child, she made them fight.
I couldn’t help but giggle.
Graham remained unamused. “Triple berry,” he said, tight-lipped.
“Pie? Tart?” I asked.
