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I follow them into the main room, watching Rachel’s red curls bounce as she sings. She’s so stinking cute and when Zeke sneaks up behind her and hoists her over his shoulder, she squeals with delight. I think I might swoon.
“Alright, Princess Rae Rae, it’s time to get to school,” Zeke says.
“I told you! I’m not a princess—I’m the boss!”
“Right,” Zeke says, spinning around, as if trying to see her face.
She giggles as he does it again, effectively spinning her in circles.
“Dale is in his crate!” Ivan says, pushing his bright green glasses up his nose, and then reaching up to give his uncle a high five.
“Make it a great day,” Zeke says, slapping Ivan’s palm and giving his niece a peck on the cheek as he sets her down.
Then Rachel comes to me and tugs on my hand. I squat down and she wraps her arms around my neck, giving me a big hug.
“Have a good day, sweetie,” I say.
“I know you’re his princess,” she whispers in my ear. Before I can respond, she boops my nose and skips down the stairs and out the door.
“What did she say?” he asks.
Blood rushes into my cheeks and I cross my arms over my chest.
“It’s a secret,” I say, because there’s no way I’m sharing that one.
He studies me for a long time, and then nods.
“Want some coffee before I take you home?”
“Yes, please,” I say.
He crosses the open loft-style living area that makes up most of his carriage house apartment, busying himself in the kitchen with water and a coffee grinder. I excuse myself to get cleaned up in the bathroom. The last thing I need after my gorgeous, adorable bed friend cheered me up after a shitty day, took care of me when I was drunk, and then made me French press coffee, is to keep smelling him on me. Especially because it smells really damn good.
11
zeke
“Well,well, well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I can’t hide my grin from my sister-in-law as she stands in the doorway to their house, a modern Tudor painted all black, tucked into a wooded lot in Portland Heights. Her arms are crossed over her chest, holding a mug of tea.
“Hey there, Sarah,” I say, dropping my gym bag next to my truck before I make my way toward her. Of course, I’ve already been out and back, taking Faye back home so she could study before her afternoon classes. I kissed her cheek and she let me, so I know I’m not in trouble, per se.
“What’s new?” she asks, arching her dark, perfectly groomed eyebrows. I study her long face, the way her brown eyes sparkle in amusement.
“New? Oh, you know, New York, New Jersey, New Caledonia.” I smirk. If she’s going to treat me like a teenager, I can dish it back.
“You forgot New Brunswick, New Hampshire, and New London.”
“Touché.”
“Anything else happen lately?”
Her shrug is a little too casual, her tall forehead a little too smooth. I’m supposed to tell her about something. Shit. What am I forgetting? Did Zach tell me something at the bar yesterday? Was I supposed to take out the trash or something?
“I don’t think—” I start out.
She lowers her chin, and I lower mine to mimic hers.
