Page 111 of Meant for Mayhem

“Nothing.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re staring.”

“I’m appreciating the range.”

“The range?”

“You threatened the GM of an NHL team a few minutes ago, and now you’re wearing a tiara.” I flicked the plastic crown on her head, and she reached up to straighten it.

“I contain multitudes, Mikko.”

Logan twisted around in his seat. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him.” He pointed at the tea cups. “Deal me in, baby.”

“Call me baby one more time, and I’ll show you another one of my sides.”

Logan plucked the tiara off her head and put it on his own, then turned around in his seat. “Fine then. I’ll have my own party.”

Carter laughed across the aisle. “I’m starting to understand why Mikko married you.”

“Because I’m charming?” Shannon held up her pinky, taking a tiny sip from her teacup. Leena picked up the other one and did the same, slurping the liquid.

“Because he’s terrified of you.”

“He should be.”

“I’m not,” I said.

Shannon handed me a tiny cup with a smirk. “Drink your tea, husband.”

I accepted it without argument, making the boys laugh again.

Once we reached cruising altitude, Leena toddled behind Nolan and handed out tea cups to my other teammates. Each one accepted it with gratitude, taking imaginary sips. Shannon leaned her head on my shoulder so she could see her walking up and down the aisle until Leena came back to us. Logan still wore the other tiara, practically begging for my daughter’s attention.

“Excuse me, princess, I’m so thirsty.” He held his hands out, and Leena put the cup in his hand with a giggle.

Unlike everyone else who had only been pretending to drink, Logan swallowed back whatever was in the cup.

“This is delicious. What kind of tea was it?”

“Backwash, probably,” Nolan said. “Can’t believe you actually drank that.”

Shannon shook with laugher, her hand resting on my forearm.

When Leena climbed back into our laps, she went to drink the one cup she’d left behind, but there was something floating in it. Before she had it to her mouth, Shannon reached up and swapped the cups for a new one. “Nope. That one’s no good.”

Leena frowned at her, then let out a string of babble that sounded suspiciously argumentative.

“I agree,” I told her. “That was rude, Mama.”

The words left my mouth before I thought about them.

Shannon went still.

It wasn’t the first time someone had made the mistake, but this hadn’t come from a stranger.

I’d said it.

Leena looked between us, her little brow furrowing as if trying to understand why we’d both gone silent. Then she twisted in Shannon’s lap and reached for me.