Page 48 of Bottles & Blades
Because I’m always drowning.
I just manage to make it to the surface to suck in a breath of air before sinking down beneath the surface again.
“I will.”
His eyes tell me he doesn’t completely believe me, but, thankfully, he lets it go.
“Leave the dishes,” he says. “And eat with us.”
“I had a protein bar not that long ago. I’m not hungry,” I lie. Well, not about the protein bar. I did eat one. I snagged it from the cafeteria earlier in between classes and finishing homework and cramming for my quiz. I just ate it about six hours ago.
He looks like he’s going to protest, but then he just shakes his head, moves to the table, starts in on his pancakes, and says, “I’m surrounded by stubborn women.”
“You love it,” I hear, and I know it’s Brit coming, even if I hadn’t recognized her voice, because his face changes, softens.
It’s beautiful.
I turn, watch her face do the same thing as she sweeps into the room, her lithe, muscular body clad in a suit that accentuates her strength and the seriousness with which she takes her job. She moves to Stefan, presses a kiss to his lips, then turns to Roxie and ruffles her hair. “Whatcha doing, Queen Rox?”
“Homework. Look!” Roxie holds up her homework. “I got the answer, Mom.”
Brit scans the paper. “You sure did, peanut.”
A scowl. “I’m not a peanut.”
“Justmypeanut.” Another ruffle. “Now, I’m out of here, pumpkin. I’ll see you in the morning when you wake up.”
“Will you wave at me on TV?”
“I sure will. Remember our sign?”
“Two squirts from your water bottle.”
“That’s it.” She kisses the top of Roxie’s head. Then she’s moving toward me, slipping her arm around my waist and leaning close, her words hushed. “Early to bed for her—and for you, if you want to crash in the guest room and catch up on your sleep,” she adds.
“Do I lookthattired?” I rest my head against her shoulder for a moment then turn and smile up at her.
She touches the spot beneath one of my eyes in answer. “Any darker and you can play a zombie for Halloween.” A squeeze before she lets me go. “Just take it easy, okay?”
“Okay.”
Then she’s moving over to Stefan again, kissing his cheek and telling him she’ll see him after the game.
A moment later, she’s out the door.
And an hour after that, Stefan follows.
Then it’s Roxie and me for the next couple of hours.
We finish homework, playMonopolyfor far too long, and then we’re turning on the game, watching for Brit to squirt her bottle twice onto the ice, and spotting it toward the end of the second period.
Which ismysign to turn off the game at intermission and get Roxie in bed.
She doesn’t protest much, which tells me that she’s running on fumes (because if Roxie has anything, it’s the ability to protest), and she’s out moments after her bath and teeth brushing and book reading.
I smooth my hand over her hair then slip from her room, closing the door behind me and watching the rest of the game.
Brit leads the team to a win, as she often does, and Stefan comes home earlier than expected, offering up the guest room again.
