Page 65 of Meant for Mayhem

Lunch was simple—grilled cheese cut into little squares for Leena and Shannon, yet another chicken and rice for me—but somewhere between wiping yogurt off tiny fingers and fishing a dropped spoon out from under the table, eating together had become one of my favorite parts of the day.

Leena shoved another bite into her mouth before announcing, “Mmm!”

Shannon nodded thoughtfully. “Cheese is always better than chicken and veggies.”

Leena answered with another enthusiastic string of babble.

“I know,” I said. “She’s not nearly as bad of a cook as she said she was.”

Shannon winked at me, and damn, I liked that too. “See? You’re getting good at this.”

I cleared my throat. “So, tonight.”

“I’ve got it.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“I have a feeling you were about to give me seventeen instructions.”

“...Maybe twelve.”

She laughed, and I couldn’t help but grin.

“I’m riding to the arena with Logan,” I began. “That way we can all come home together afterward. And I left your tickets on the counter. They’re lower level, behind our bench. If...” I hesitated, hating that the next part still felt necessary. “If I need to find you, I know where to look.”

“We’ll be there.”

“And Leena’s headphones⁠—”

“Already packed.”

I blinked.

“In my backpack,” she clarified. “Along with her water, an extra outfit, wipes, three diapers, her favorite moose, and multiple emergency snacks. I’m thinking she’s going to love a hot pretzel too.”

I stared at her, a little gobsmacked that she had this down already. We hadn’t left the house much in the last two weeks, but Shannon was meticulous about everything she did. It shouldn’t have surprised me, and yet it did. “You already thought of everything.”

That smirk of hers returned, grey eyes glittering. “I know.”

The way she said it wasn’t so much arrogance as it was confidence, and the tightness in my chest loosened even more.

“The family waiting room after the game.” I focused on the table, trying to sound like I wasn’t thinking about how much I loved the idea of them waiting for me after the game. “Not the lobby.”

“I saw the map you printed. We’ll be there.”

“If something happens⁠—”

She reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Mikko.”

When I didn’t look up, she squeezed it.

“You play hockey.” Her voice was calm. Matter-of-fact, even. “Trust me. I’ve got the rest.”

Every instinct I had wanted to argue. To double-check. To make sure she’d remembered every little detail. But when I looked across the table, Leena happily kicked her feet beneath her high chair while Shannon reached over to wipe yogurt off her chin without interrupting our conversation.

Although she’d only been here for two weeks, Shannon made caring for my daughter look as natural as breathing.

“Okay,” I said quietly.