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Chase cocks his head. ‘Did you hear something?’ he asks me.
I shake my head, biting back laughter. ‘Nope.’
‘Wanna see your dwagon!’ Eloise repeats, albeit a bit angrier.
‘I swear I can hear something,’ Chase teases.
‘Sounds like a gremlin,’ I supply.
‘I’m not gremlin; you a gremlin!’ Okay, she’s definitely pissed now. ‘You a smewwy gremlin!’
Chase bursts out laughing before he reaches out and tickles his niece. ‘There you are.’
Eloise giggles. ‘No, I flyin’. Me not on your head.’
‘Oh? So you don’t want to get down?’
‘Down down down!’
‘What’s the password?’
‘Um…’ She seems to think long and hard about it. ‘Pwincess piggy!’
There’s something about watching Chase with his niece that warms me. He’ll be a great dad one day.
Chase smiles at me, but he asks Eloise, ‘You’re Princess Piggy?’
‘Noooo!’ She throws up her hands. ‘Fankie little piggy.’
‘Ah, that’s good enough for me.’ He lifts her off his shoulders and gently sets her down. ‘Where’s your mummy?’
‘I said I’d look after Eloise for a few hours,’ I tell him. ‘Your sister seemed really tired.’
Chase looks at me, and his joy fades into concern. I try not to glance too hard at his grey joggers, or the black shirt, leaving the ink on his arms exposed. His hair is sleep-mussed, and even his eyes seem bright with exhaustion. He clears his throat, as if he notices my stare, before he pads to the kettle, completely ignoring the mess.
‘Tea?’
My throat is dry. ‘No, I’m good, thanks.’
I watch the muscles in his back strain with each movement.
God.
Maybe staying here isn’t such a good idea.
I stand. ‘I’ll tidy the mess—‘
‘I got it.’
I pause. ‘What do you want me to do, then?’
He glances at me, his expression pained. ‘Frankie, I don’t need you to do anything. Sit. Relax.’
I do none of those things. ‘Can you watch Eloise while I grab a quick shower?’
‘Sure.’
I stare at him for a moment longer, words teetering on the tip of my tongue, before I make for the bathroom.
