Page 58 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

Oh gods. A second little sister. Hadrian’s pretty much our brother.

I squeeze her arm as I stand, mumbling about hitting the restroom. My whole family’s reassuring Petra as I head through the kitchen and to the back door.

A second little sister.

I need two minutes of space to wrestle with my emotions about all of this. It doesn’t surprise me when footsteps echo after me. Except for when I turn around and find Jace standing there with his hands in his pockets and a knowing look on his face.

He steps closer. “You wanna tell me why you high-tailed it outta there like your hair was on fire when the Jays called Petra our second sister?”

I scowl at him, crossing my arms. “You always were too observant for your own good, you know that?”

He shrugs, glancing at the blue mountains off in the distance. “What can I say? If I wasn’t the observant one on our jobs, who knows what would happen with the twins in charge.”

When I say nothing else, he cocks his head to the side. He doesn’t speak either, though, and he knows I hate silence. I’ll fill a silence anytime.

“It’s been a crazy few weeks,” I hedge. “Buying the Bodice and discovering she hates being owned by me. Hadrian moving across the hall and Petra showing up. The Mead Cute Festival is in a couple days, and Lemon’s opening the damn Keeper’s house. It’s just…there’s so much going on, and sometimes I wish I could disappear for a few days and just wipe my slate clean, ya know?”

He eyes me with a soft smile. “Any particular part of that got you wound up more than anything else? I know the Jays have been asking a lot of you lately. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that, by the way.”

I wave away his concern. “Nah, it’s just…all the things.”

Reaching out, he slings an arm around my neck and pulls me close. Like always, the rich soap he uses fills my nostrils, and I smile. He’s the only male Tucker with a fancy grooming plan that includes anything scented.

“Love you, Bloob,” he says softly.

Just as I open my mouth to return the affection, my comm watch pings, and one of our renters’ names hovers over the band.

Jace tugs my hair playfully before walking off. “Don’t think I’m gonna forget about this conversation.”

Sighing, I look up at the stars winking down on me as I direct the watch to answer.

“Bluebell? This is Angelina over at cottage two forty-nine. We’ve got a leak, girl, and water is sprayin’ all over the damn place! Can you help?!”

“On my way,” I say as I head around the side of the ranch house to where my truck is parked in front.

Truly, there is no rest for the weary.

Hadrian

The following morning, I’m making pancakes with Petra’s help. She slept in my nest again, and my back aches after another night on the sofa. I’m used to sleeping stretched out in the nest I had specially made at Hearth HQ. Although, based on how well Petra’s sleeping in it, I have to wonder if she ever had a nest of her own.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Jasper shouts from the other side, “Let me in, asshole! I brought more food for your sister!”

Chuckling, I pick my way across the small apartment and yank the door open. Jasper stands on the other side, flashing me the middle finger as he dips past me and into the room.

“Hey, little one,” he says to Petra. “Brought you donuts from Skylight Bakery across the street. Tell me you’ve experienced donuts?”

She shakes her head as Jasper and I join her in the kitchen. “No idea what a donut is, but I smell sugar, I think?”

He tosses the box of donuts on my island. “Girrrrrl, prepare to have your mind blown. Skylight makes about three hundred types of pastries, but the donuts are the absolute best. Go on and toss those pancakes in the garbage. Also make sure to save one for my sister. If she thinks I forgot her, she’ll eagle screech and, ugh, I hate it.”

Petra scoffs. “Throw food away? Are you kidding? I just learned to cook them!”

He looks at me. “Hey, don’t you have an away game tomorrow?”

I nod, risking a look at Petra, who’s staring between us with an observant look.

Jasper jerks a thumb at her. “What are you gonna do with the little one?”