Page 82 of Fallen Flame

Within minutes, the clubhouse felt alive.

Ever spotted me. “There you are.” She hugged me tightly. “You okay?”

“I think so.”

“You?”

“I’m good.”

Before we could talk more, Nikki walked over. She smiled warmly at us. “Morning, sweetheart.”

It took me a second to realize she meant me. “Morning.”

“How’s your arm?”

I rubbed it unconsciously. “Sore, but it’s fine.”

“Let me see.”

I rolled up my sleeve and noticed the bruises had darkened overnight.

Nikki frowned sympathetically. “Ouch.”

“Yeah.” It sucked, but that was better than being in the back of that van.

Without another word, she disappeared into the kitchen and came back carrying an ice pack wrapped in a dish towel.

She held it out and smiled. “You need it,” she insisted.

“Oh.” Fair enough. “Thank you.”

She reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You sleep okay?”

I glanced at Oliver. He suddenly became fascinated by whatever was in his coffee mug.

I smiled. “I did.”

“I’m glad.” No teasing. No interrogation. Just kindness.

Across the room, Alice was passionately explaining to Wrecker why they absolutely needed to add onto the clubhouse—at least a bigger kitchen and pantry.

“I’ve got flour balanced on cereal boxes,” she pointed out.

“You don’t need another pantry.”

“I absolutely do.”

“You absolutely don’t.”

“I feed all of you.”

“That’s your choice.”

“It stopped being my choice years ago.”

I leaned closer to Oliver. “I adore Alice.”

He chuckled. “I knew you would. That’s you in twenty years.”