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“Definitely this one.” Abby held up a bright purple shade to which Sophie gave a nod of approval.
With a shake of the bottle, Kaden carefully uncapped it and gripped Sophie’s tiny hand in his own, then slowly brushed a wash of color over one nail.
If accuracy was any indication, he had done this a dozen times. As he worked, he stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth in concentration and swiped more polish on another nail, taking his time.
“Is Kaden your boyfriend?” Sophie asked, breaking the momentary silence.
Kaden jerked the brush, and a streak of purple coated her tiny finger. “Crap,” he said, glancing over at Abby and hurried to wipe off the stray polish, smearing it in the process. “Sophie, you don’t ask that.”
“Why not?” she frowned. “Are you not, then?”
Biting her lip, Abby stifled a laugh. “Kaden and I a
re friends.”
“Oh.” Sophie glanced at Abigail, her mouth flattening in disappointment before she turned to Kaden once again and asked, “Don’t you like her?”
“Of course, I like her. Look at her. How could I not?”
Warmth uncurled in Abby’s belly.
“Well, then what’s the problem?” Sophie asked, then turned to Abby. “Oh.” Her mouth rounded on the word. “You don’t like my brother.”
Heat rose to Abby’s cheeks, and her heart soared as Kaden’s dark eyes darted over at her as he worked, waiting for her answer.
“Um...well...”
“Well, what?” Sophie stared, her gaze relentless.
“Yeah, Abby. Well, what? Do you like me or not?” Kaden smirked.
Clearing her throat, Abby lifted her chin. “I do like him, whenever he’s not being annoying. Like now.”
Kaden chuckled.
“So, if you like him and he likes you, what’s the problem?”
Their eyes locked, and the temperature in the room rose from warm to inferno as everything else faded away.
“So, he’s just a wuss then,” Sophie blurted, shooting daggers at him with her eyes. “Too afraid to ask you out. So lame.”
Abby choked on a spurt of laughter, which only encouraged her.
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Or is it because dad doesn’t like her?”
Abby’s smile vanished at the truth.
“Dad doesn’t not like her,” Kaden said, glancing at her. “He just doesn’t like the idea of me having commitments or attachments or...whatever. Dad doesn’t like anyone.”
“He thinks she’s a bad influence.”
Kaden glared at his sister, and Abigail had to admit, though the truth hurt, she appreciated her honesty. With Sophie, at least you knew where you stood.
“I heard you guys talking yesterday in the hospital when you thought I was asleep,” she said.
“It’s rude to eavesdrop,” Kaden scolded, but Sophie simply shrugged.
A moment later, he popped the brush back in the bottle.
