Page 91 of Dancing in the Dark

“You’re so sweet for offering.” Sera exhales a soft snicker. It sounds like she’s still here. It’s probably safe for me to look, right? “Why don’t we think about sleeping arrangements after dinner? It’s getting kinda late, and I was a bit naughty and skipped lunch.”

She gasps. “That’s so naughty! My daddy says I’m not allowed to forget lunch ever. He must be so mad at you, huh?”

“I think your daddy is busy being mad at Cato right now. Come on.” I hear her grunt of exertion. This is it. This is her opening the window and yeeting her unforgettable ass out to freedom. “I’m starving, and your dad’s currently working through his third existential crisis of the month.”

“A stensial cripescious?”

“Mmhm. He’s feeling big feelings, that’s all.” I hear the air release from the opening fridge. She’s still here? She hasn’t run yet? “Did you already pick something out for dinner, Moo?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

Slowly, carefully, I crack my eyes open and find Mia climbing onto the counter.

“Yeah, but what?” So fucking beautiful, so perfect, Sera turns and looks up at my baby. “What’s wrong?”

“We were gonna make stir fry, since it’s quick and I like to add the sezme seeds. But we add cow bums too, and you don’t like cow bums.”

“Well…” Choking out a bubbling laugh, Sera merely shakes her head and taps the fridge shut with her foot. “You can have your cow bums, and I can have everything else in the stir fry. I’ll add mushrooms, since I like those so much and we still have a few left over from last time I was here. Then, if I plate my portion up before you add the cow bums, everyone will be happy.”

“Really?” Mia swings her gaze from me to Sera. Back to me. Then to Sera. “A-are you sure? Cos if you want, we could all eat mushrooms.” Her poor little cheeks turn green. “I guess.”

“I mean…” Sera grabs her by the hips and lifts her off the counter, only to lower her again so she’s sitting on her butt. “I really, really like mushrooms, and although it makes me kinda selfish to want to keep them all to myself, I did skip lunch, remember? I’m starving, and the only thing that’ll make me happy is if I got to eat all the mushrooms all by myself. Would you be mad at me if I did that?”

Mia’s head swings quickly side to side. “I wouldn’t be mad. Promise!”

“Are you sure? Because I definitely don’t want you to think I’m selfish. If you really wanted some, I suppose I could share. But…” She makes a pouty face and rubs her stomach. “Oh, man, I hope you don’t eat too many. I’m so hungry.”

“You can have my whole share!” Determined, she grabs Sera’s face and holds her still. “All of them. Every single one.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Uh huh. I had a whole box of mushrooms for lunch!”

Liar.

Like Sera, she rubs her belly. “I’m actually really full for mushrooms.”

“You are the most generous, kindhearted, selfless person I have ever met in my entire life.” Sera grabs her off the counter and plops her onto her feet. “Let’s wash our hands so we can get started. I’m starrrrrving.”

34

FLETCH

Mia sleeps with her tiny body curled on Sera’s lap, the last of Homeward Bound playing on the television in my otherwise dark living room. Copeland City traffic hums on the street outside, a bus carrying first responders in and out of the area farting its way toward the hospital in time for third shift to begin.

My phone vibrates against my thigh, a text message mentioning a club I know downtown, and a date a couple of days from now.

That’s all I need to know to be certain that opening it here and now would be a bad idea. Instead, I revel in the warmth of Sera’s stare on the side of my face. I feel her smile in the air, and bathe in the contentment she exhales with every breath.

Tilting my head to the side and catching her yearning gaze, I smirk and look her up and down. “What?”

Predictably, her cheeks redden with a stunning rosy blush. “What?”

“You wanted my attention.” I walk my fingers across the couch and stroke her forearm with the side of my thumb. “Now you’ve got it. You have something to say to me, Seraphina? Or are you waiting for me to make the first move?”

Her face burns hotter. Her discomfort palpable… and delicious.

“You don’t have to be a jerk about it, ya know? I’m already nervous.”