Page 211 of Safe With You

“My office is in the back, Bug.”

The nickname slipped out so naturally that Luna didn’t seem to notice she said it.

I did.

My eyes lifted to her, but she was still looking at the picture in Mila’s hands, waiting while my daughter considered the problem like the placement of this drawing required serious thought.

“Put it by the register.”

Luna laughed. “Oh, so you’re picking the location too?”

“Yes.”

“Of course you are.”

Mila reached for her hand, and Luna took it without hesitation before letting her lead the way toward the front counter.

I followed a few steps behind, but my mind caught briefly on that one little word.

Bug.

I’d called Mila that for so long I didn’t remember exactly when it started. Somewhere between baby babble and scraped knees, it became hers. Tasha used it every now and then because she’d heard me say it a thousand times, but hearing it come from Luna felt different.

Not wrong.

That was the part that got me.

It didn’t sound like she was trying on something that belonged to me. It sounded like she’d spent enough time around us for a piece of our everyday life to find its way into hers without any of us noticing.

By the time I reached the counter, Luna and Mila were already debating whether the picture should go beside the bookmarks or closer to the little display of staff recommendations.

I didn’t say anything about the nickname.

I didn’t need to.

But I heard it again anyway.

“Here,” Luna said, reaching beneath the counter for a roll of tape. “How about we put it right here?”

Mila studied the spot she pointed to. “People can see it?”

“As soon as they walk up.”

“Okay.”

Luna tore off two small pieces of tape and handed one to Mila. Together, they straightened the picture against the side of the register, although Mila’s half ended up slightly higher than Luna’s.

Neither of them seemed bothered by it.

“There.” Luna stepped back. “Perfect.”

“It’s crooked,” Naomi said.

Mila turned toward her. “It’s supposed to be.”

Naomi lifted both hands. “My mistake.”

I laughed as Luna pressed her lips together, trying not to.