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“So, umm, I guess we’re supposed to entertain you guys.” Lowering his voice, he stepped closer to them and cupped his mouth with one hand to speak confidentially quiet. “So, even if we totally suck, please at least act entertained. ’Kay?”
They laughed, and somewhere inside him, he glowed with pleasure. There was just something about making a group of sick children laugh. It almost shocked him how good it felt.
Beside him, a sharp elbow dug into his ribs. “Excuse me?” Paige set her hands on her hips and sent him a scowl. “I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t plan on sucking at all.” She put on such an overdone look of outrage, the children giggled again.
He blinked, stunned to realize she was playacting. And after what they’d just gone through outside too.
“Oh, I beg your pardon, my lady.” He swept a low bow, jumping into his own role, and was relieved when more giggles arose. “I forgot you were incapable of suckage.”
After a brief, forgiving nod, she sniffed and lifted her chin, assuming the station of princess—or queen, or whatever she wanted to be—and waved out one regal hand with a flourish. “Think nothing of it, peasant. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Unable to stop a wide grin, he turned to his audience. “I guess we have an hour to not-suck then? What do you guys want to do?”
When no one immediately raised a hand or suggested anything, Paige jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Oh, I know, I know! Let’s ride unicorns across a magical meadow full of pretty, colorful flowers that smell like fresh roses.”
Logan arched an eyebrow. The kids laughed and cheered her idea on. At least the girls did. Most of the boys booed. When they settled, Logan made a face. “Why don’t we read a book or something instead?”
“But we always read books with visitors,” one boy grumbled.
“Yeah. I want to ride a unicorn,” another girl piped up.
Suddenly, the room was full of impossible suggestions. Climbing mountains, magic carpet rides, fighting zombies, swimming in the ocean, going to Disney World.
After a see-what-you-started scowl for Paige, Logan sighed and set his hands on his hips. “Well, I’m sorry, but my unicorn is in the shop right now, and I don’t think they’ll let us out of this joint for the rest of that stuff.”
A bunch of grumbles answered him, and Paige led the rebellion as she hooked her thumb over her shoulder and motioned to him. “Boy, does he know how to shoot down some perfectly awesome suggestions.”
Not sure how he’d become the fuddy-duddy of the group, Logan glanced around the sterile playroom, determined to redeem himself. Trying to come up with something—anything—the kids could safely play, he paused briefly when he spotted an old leather trunk sitting against the far wall.
“Hey, what’s in that trunk over there?”
No one knew.
“How long has it been there?” he asked next.
“It’s always been there,” one shaved-head, bruised-eye little girl answered.
Logan lifted his eyebrows. “Well, isn’t anyone curious what’s inside?”
“We’re not allowed to touch it,” someone else spoke up. But since he had mentioned it, the children eyed the trunk, all of them looking decidedly interested.
“I’m going to check it out,” he announced and started boldly for the trunk.
“Wait!” Paige grabbed his arm in a light but cautious grip.
He gaped at her fingers before looking up at her face. He had no idea if he’d ever get used to her voluntarily touching him, but he did know he liked it. A lot. A sudden desire to pull her into a fierce hug and press a soft kiss to her bruised, cut cheek overwhelmed him. When was the last time someone had coddled her and kissed away her boo-boos?
Logan restrained himself from doing just that, mainly because he knew she’d push him away if he even attempted it, but also because it’d break up playtime and wipe that refreshing look of vivacity off her face.
Her eyes glittered with amusement even as she showed her teeth as if they were chattering with fear. “I don’t know. What if it’s full of…of flesh-eating dragons?” she asked, her voice going hushed with worry.
Inspired by her act, he patted her hand lightly in reassurance and kept his voice quiet. “Do you really think I’d let a flesh-eating dragon past me…not when I have my handy…” He paused to dig a hand into his pocket. When his fingers latched around something, he pulled it out to show all the children. “…gum with me.”
The kids roared with laughter.
Paige glanced at the gigglers and promptly turned back to him, arching her eyebrows. “Gum? Is that all you got?”
He gave a serious nod. “Didn’t you know dragons were afraid of gum? Especially spearmint flavor. It takes the fire right out of their breath.”
