Page 34 of Prickly Romance

“I wonder if Vanya’s finally arrived,” his mother answers.

“I haven’t seen her and Baby Ollie inages,” the elder moans.

“Who is it, Sunny?” Alistair’s wife asks.

Sunny checks a monitor in the kitchen. “She looks familiar. Wait… isn’t that? I think it’s Vanya’s friend.”

My ears perk up.

“Vanya’s friend? The one who performed at the gala?” Alistair’s eyes widen. He shoots me a panicked look.

I don’t know what he is imagining and I don’t care either.

Tapping Niko on the shoulder, I sign, “Dejonae is here.”

The dark cloud that had been hovering over my daughter disappears. A brilliant smile charges across her face and it’s almost blinding.

Niko hops out of her seat and makes a mad dash for the door.

Every head swings to her.

Even the children in the living room stop their game to stare.

My daughter does not notice. She throws the screen door open and wraps her arms around a very shocked Dejonae.

I watch for any hint of disdain to cross the college student’s face. After all, Dejonae must be aware of my agreement with the school by now. If there is so much as a whiff of anger or hatred in her response to Niko—or any sense that she may take out her frustrations on my daughter—I will whisk Niko away immediately.

But Dejonae shows no signs of annoyance.

Her face lights up and she grabs my daughter back, holding her as if she plans to swallow Niko into her body.

I stare at them, my gut churning.

Niko trusts this woman.

How? When? Why?

Because of one encounter in an alley?

The connection between Dejonae and my daughter seems to be getting stronger at every meeting. Niko so rarely opens up to people. Now that she has, I cannot let her joy end in disappointment.

As if she can sense my fierce inspection, Dejonae glances up.

There is a stark difference between her reaction to Niko and her reaction to me. With me, anger gathers like storm clouds, spitting thunder from her expressive brown eyes.

Niko tugs on Dejonae’s hand, breaking our stare.

My daughter points to the table where the fry jacks are gathered in baskets. “Have you tried that?”

“Not yet.” Dejonae motions to her mouth three times. “But I’ll probably eat a lot.”

Niko giggles.

“Hi, everyone.” Dejonae keeps her eyes trained away from me as she nears the table. “I’m Dejonae. Vanya’s friend. Thank you for the invitation.”

“Welcome. Welcome. The more the merrier.” The elder waddles around the table with a swish of her thick, embroidered skirt. “Vanya told us you were coming.”

“Speaking of,” Sunny checks her phone, “where is Vanya?”

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