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Justin raised both eyebrows and looked at me from the side. “Cute kid.”
“Five.” Lennox scratched the back of his neck. “Tough age. I was giving my mama hell by then.”
“Abigail isn’t like that.” I was proud of my daughter, and I let it drive my voice, daring them to argue with me. “I’ve never known a better kid. And I’m not saying that because she’s my daughter.”
“She’s right,” Dad spoke up, his voice tinged with amusement. “Doesn’t even color on the walls like her mama did at that age.” His mouth creased into a wide smile.
He’d remember soon enough that he was mad at Zachary for being late and give him hell. But right now he was just a doting grandpa showing off his girls.
I didn’t need to be showed off. I had enough problems hanging overhead without adding any kind of romantic entanglements to the mix.
Zachary kept staring at the photo, a line between his brows as he looked at me and Abigail. Finally, he looked over at me and grinned. “She looks like you.”
“Thanks.” My breath released in a whoosh. Those were the kinds of compliments I accepted. They were the only ones.
Dad snapped his wallet shut. “Alright. Everybody inside. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about practice.” He pointed at Zachary and his eyes narrowed. “You owe me twenty laps around the rink.”
Zachary tapped his forehead in a mock salute and shouldered past Lennox and Justin. “Sure thing, Coach.”
Their shuffling turned into roughhousing, which caused Justin to take a step back and to the side. He landed on my foot and his elbow grazed my breast.
Electricity zipped through my entire body even though my foot throbbed. “Ow.” I shoved his shoulder to make him move and huffed at the three of them. “You better not have ruined my new boots.” I eyed the leather for scuffs and rubbed it on the back of my other calf to clean off the dirt and debris from his sneakers.
“Sorry.” Justin held up both hands like I held him at gunpoint. “I know better than to come between a woman and her shoes.”
“Har har.” I scrunched my face into a mockery of a smile. “I need to get to work. So, if you’re done goofing off, get out of the way.”
Zachary burst out laughing and stepped back, holding the door wide open for me. “After you.” Mischief twinkled in his eyes, and my phone rang before I could move past him.
I moved out of the doorway and waved them to go on ahead of me while I dragged my phone from my bag and checked the screen. “Dad, I have to take this. I’ll be in soon.” I turned away and swiped to answer Jenna’s call.
She started talking before I could say hello. “You are not going to believe this.” Her voice was close to reaching a level where only dogs could hear her.
“What?” I leaned my back against the concrete wall and draped my arm over my stomach. My briefcase bumped my hip, reminding me I needed to stop by my car to drop it off, so I didn’t forget and leave it in my office. The rink stretched three stories above me, the cold concrete creating a blockade from the sun. I shivered in my dress coat and silently berated myself for not choosing my warmer peacoat for today. Oh well. Fashion sometimes overruled weather. I’d be warm enough once I made it to my office.
“Lucy?” Jenna belted my name loud enough that a man walking past me jolted and stared at me.
I rolled my eyes and focused. “Sorry. What’s going on?”
“Didn’t you hear a word I said?”
“Nope. I had my big meeting with the board for the youth advocacy so I’m a little distracted.” I refused to apologize again.
Jenna sighed but her tone dropped to a tolerable level. “One of your videos has gone viral.”
My heart stuttered, then raced. “What? Which one?”
“The one of you skating with those girls at the pond and asking them about hockey.” Voices filtered through the background and Jenna talked to someone, her voice low and muffled. When she came back, her bright cheeriness made me grin. “Listen, the local paper wants to do a story on you.”
“Of course,” I answered automatically. “When and where?” Oh, what if they did it here? Then I could showcase my new job at the same time.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask when Dad butted in. “You sure you want to do that?”
I jumped at the sound of his voice. “Dad? What are you doing out here?” I pushed hair back from my face and frowned up at him. “You’re supposed to be inside. Why are you listening to my phone conversation?”
He rubbed one knuckle down his cheek, not looking at all repentant. “I came out here to let you know that your supplies arrived today. I told the delivery guys to leave them in your office. Didn’t think you’d want me or anyone else unpacking for you.”
Oh. Well. I narrowed my eyes at him and covered the mic on my phone. “Why did you ask about the interview? It’s great exposure for the youth advocacy.”
