She grins. “Well, when I get my E-reader back, we can test that.” As quick as she says it, her smile vanishes. “I don’t have the charger for it, though.”
My frown matches hers. “You don’t?”
Flushing, she winces with embarrassment. “My… dad, he kept it. As long as I was good during the day while he worked, he would charge it at night for me. Giving me things to do is how he kept me from going mad, I think.”
If he weren’t dead, I’d kill him again.
But Winter doesn’t need me to be angry on her behalf. No, now she needs to think about things that make her happy.
“Things like what?” I wonder, hoping to return her smile.
Thankfully, it’s the right question to ask.
“My crafts,” she exclaims with the most joy-filled grin. “Slime materials—slime is my favorite, beads and string for bracelet making, some clay and paints. Mostly slime, though. It’s not all green and gross like it used to be. Slime is so cute and fun now, you know? I love the way it feels between my fingers! I have a little box of stuff in his room.”
Fuck, I need to learn about slime if the topic makes her gush this much.
“How about you finish this up, get some more sleep, and when you wake up, I’ll have your box waiting for you?”
“Make it my box and you waiting for me, and you’ve got a deal, handsome.”
I can’t hide my snort.
She scowls at me. “What about that was funny, exactly?”
Wincing, I shake my head. “Wasn’t laughing at you, sugar.”
“What then?” she demands, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Handsome is a bit of a stretch,” I say lighty, offering her more soup.
She rejects it, glaring at the spoon. “Don’t talk about my hero that way, Moore.” Her words are firm and come out bordering on threatening. “You are obscenely handsome.”
It’s difficult not to scoff at the proclamation, but I refrain.
“You don’t see it, do you?” she asks, looking glum.
“It doesn’t matter?—”
“I’ll make you see it,” she declares, interrupting me.
Somehow, I don’t doubt that she will. And me being hopeful about her words? That’s the oddest thing that’s happened today.
“If you say so, sugar,” I reply helplessly.
Her lips lift into a smirk. “I say so.”