Page 54 of Tied Over

I groaned as more people came for their kids. When they were all collected except Stella, the three of us went upstairs to find Hayden, Davis, Hayden’s folks, and Keith in the kitchen.

“Okay, kid, time to go to bed,” I told Stella.

Instant panic, you could see it on her face. Logically, she knew Stoker was gone, but she was tired now, even though she wouldn’t admit it, and her anxiety was in full control.

“You know,” I said, gesturing for Keith, “I bet your dad would let you sleep in his room with him tonight if you wanted.”

She immediately turned to him.

He rushed over and went down on one knee next to his girl. “That’s what I was talking about earlier. We should have a sleepover.”

Studying his face for a moment, she slowly leaned into him, wrapping her little arms around his neck and squeezing.

I saw him shudder, he was so happy.

“Okay, so we’ll see ya in the morning,” I said, prodding him to move, and when Keith looked up at me, I nodded.

He stood up with Stella in his arms, and she leaned so she could hug me. I was gentle hugging her back, and then they left.

“You’ll be here tomorrow, right, Jed? To meet my mom?” she called back to me.

“I will. Now zip it and go to bed.”

She was giggling as Keith walked her out of the kitchen.

“Was your plan really to golf tomorrow?” Bodhi asked Hayden as he joined us at the kitchen counter.

“Well, yes. We all love it, and Dad got us spots at the club for—”

“And everybody is doing that?”

“Well, no, Josette and Angie are going to Pike Place Market and—”

“That sounds fun,” I told them.

Angie walked in and filled a tumbler with water.

“Hey, can I come along to Pike Place Market tomorrow?”

“Of course,” she said, chuckling, “but what about golfing?”

“I have an injured wing,” I reminded her.

“True. I mean, what would you do out there, sit in the golf cart and drink?” she said like the idea of that was really stupid.

“Right?” I said, glancing at Hayden.

“Count me in,” Bodhi told her. “I don’t golf either.”

“That’s true,” I seconded. “Tennis is his sport. And surfing, which he never does anymore.”

He shrugged.

“You play tennis?” Hayden asked him. “You’ve never said, and we have a court here. We should play.”

Bodhi sort of grimaced.

“I’ll go easy on you, I promise.”