Page 40 of Crack the Ice

I look up at him through my lashes, and it’s like my brain finally caught up to the fact that I’m not trying to get away from him. It’s a dangerous thing, but I don’t hate it. In fact, I crave it. “Thanks,” I whisper.

Kait swirls her coffee before saying she’d be more than happy to take Lily, too. Mandy has things covered on the management front, plus they’ve hired like six new people in the year and a half Tattered Pages has been open. Kait now works mostly behind the scenes, community outreach, helping to gather books for The Wilder Foundation kids to read to the animals, among other things.

“Oh, hey,” I say when I remembered our talk from a few weeks ago. “When are we starting book club?”

Mav’s brow hikes. “We already have book club.”

I roll my eyes, tightening my hands around my cup so I don’t swat him in front of my sister-in-law. “Thank you, Captain obvious.”

Lily giggles behind her hands, but doesn’t interrupt.

“We’d talked about doing a Young Adult book for the summer. What was it?”

“Fake Skating,” Kait says.

I snap, pointing at her. “That’s the one. We were going to include the little cuties.”

Lily’s face lights up. “You mean I get to be part of book club?! Uncle Lucas talks about it alllllll the time. But I didn’t think I could come. I get to? Really?!” Her little head bounces back and forth between the three of us.

“Yeah, of course,” Kait says, but it’s Mav’s gaze on the side of my face that has me turning toward him.

Shifting on my feet, I lace my fingers together in front of me to give myself something to hold on to. “Is that okay?”

“Of course.” He looks over at Kait. “You have enough copies?”

“I ordered them a couple of days ago. I didn’t think to run it by the rest of you guys first.”

He raises his brows, sending a pointed look in her direction. She’s been so much better about taking up the space she deserves, but every now and then, she shrinks back.

“They’ll be here in a few days. We can start next week if you want,” she says to Lily. “I have it on good authority that we’ll have all the cookies we can fit in our bellies, too.”

The most conspiring smile I’ve ever seen slides across this little girl’s face, and I already know I’m in for it. “Can you make raisin ones?”

“Why?” I have a feeling I already know the answer, but I’d like her to confirm

Her hands steeple in front of her, eyebrows wiggling as she pauses for dramatic effect. “Cade hates them, says oatmeal raisin cookies are the reason he has trust problems.”

I was right. The prank princess has arrived. Kait chokes on the sip of coffee she just took. Mav looks like he’s fighting for dear life as he tries not to laugh. But then I break, head tipping back, and wheeze out a laugh that ripples through the room. The sound spurs on the laughter of both Mav and Kait, while Lily stands in the middle of us with a triumphant look on her face.

“You’ve been spending too much time with your Uncle.” Kait swipes under her eyes before walking to the door and turning the sign to open.

“Soooo… Can you?” she asks, putting her hands under her chin and batting her lashes at me. It’d be a miracle if I could say no to anyone in this room, but alas, I cannot.

“Sure, Lil Bit.”

She gasps, but her eyes are shining. “You haven’t called me that in forever. I miss that nickname. It’s official, no more Lily to you. Only Lil Bit, okay Cecy?”

She grabs my hand and squeezes like she did when I gave her that nickname five years ago when I taught her dance class.

My hands hang heavy by my sides, and I ache to pull her into a hug and protect her at all costs. Her joy is one of the things I love most about her. She can turn a bad situation into a good one without breaking a sweat. I honestly could learn a thing or two from her.

“Sure thing, Lil Bit.” I wink, causing her to send me a conspiratorial one right back.

Alright then, guess I’m an accomplice to pranking her brother. I guess I’m a sucker too, considering I’d do about anything to see her smile.

* shit

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