Page 27 of Penalty Kill

Sydney dished out pancakes onto four plates and told the boys to get on their chairs so we could eat. She set the plates out in front of them and made sure they were taken care of before offering a plate to me.

“Do you want to put a shirt on before eating?” she asked while maintaining perfect eye contact.

“Nah, I’m good.” I grinned and took the plate.

“Sure.” She cleared her throat. “That was a really great game yesterday. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had a lot of fun.”

I started down at my Mickey Mouse pancakes and laughed. Of course she made designs. “I’m glad.”

“There was one thing that happened.” She was watching the boys, who were distracted with their food, and her voice was quiet.

“What?” My mind ran through a million possibilities.

“We had a run-in with someone while taking a bathroom break.”

That was unexpected. “What do you mean? With a fan?”

She shook her head. “No, I think she’s a friend of your ex. They boys seemed to know her, but didn’t like her much.”

My stomach dropped. I should have warned her that some of Olivia’s lackies were still around.

“Sorry about that.”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Madeline came in and got rid of her. It was just weird because she tried to get the boys to go with her. They didn’t, and I wouldn’t have let them, obviously, but it was just strange.”

That was weird. I wondered who it was, but they were all the same to me.

“Thanks for taking care of them. I’ll remind security to keep an eye out when you guys are there.”

She nodded and took a big bite of her syrupy pancake. She sighed and closed her eyes. “So good.”

I took a bite and grunted in agreement. They were light, fluffy, and delicious. “I could get used to this.”

She elbowed my arm and shook her head. “Don’t get too excited. My cooking abilities are perfect for the palates of four-year-olds, but once they get past the mac and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches phase I’m out of luck.”

I chuckled, pretending like her casual touch was completely normal and nothing to obsess over. “Don’t worry. I’m thirty-three and still in that phase.”

She laughed and moved to make sure the boys were eating. “Do you want another one, Milo?”

He nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”

Whoa. Not only was he eating, but he had manners? Was this the twilight zone?

“Good job, buddy.”

He grinned at me and Finn jumped in. “Me too, Sydney. One more, please.”

I watched as she set the pancakes on their plates then moved back next to me.

“Thank you!” they said together.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Okay, are you secretly Mary Poppins?”

She cocked her head. “What?”

“You have them eating real food, which is a miracle, and they’re saying please and thank you?”

She shrugged. “I cannot reveal my secrets.”