Page 15 of Bastian

“Goodnight, mommy,” I whisper, before closing the curtain. Maybe she’s looking at the sky, too, and thinking of me.

Maybe.

Knock, knock.

Oh-uh.

Busted.

I run fast towards the bed and dive in under the covers, but before I invite them in, the door bursts open, revealing an amused-looking Shaw. “Now, I know your dad put you to bed minutes ago, Moonshine.”

My silly heart flips every time he calls me that.

It doesn’t do anything different when all the others called me that.

Weird.

“Shaw-bear.” I try my best to sound grown up, like Chloe, our chef, does every time Shaw walks in the room.

I don’t like Chloe.

She smells like onions.

I also don’t like onions.

Plus, she’s always hogging all of Shaw’s attention.

Yes, I don’t like Chloe.

My friend, Kyrie, when he comes over always sings the kissing song when he sees Chloe and Shaw together.

It’s stupid.

The names don’t even sound good together.

Chloe and Shaw.

Blahh.

Shaw moves closer, walking to the bed dressed in his usual clothing. A black suit with black boots. No tie and no leather shoes like all the other men on dad’s team.

Uncle Benji is always yelling at Shaw to follow the clothing protocols, but Shaw never does.

That’s why they’re always fighting with each other.

It’s funny.

He’s also the youngest on the team. I don’t know exactly how old he is, but I hear Uncle Benji calling him a child, so I’m guessing he’s younger than Uncle Benji.

“I brought you something.”

Gasping in excitement, I sit in bed, extending my palm toward him.

Shaw shakes his head, pulls out something from his back, and places it in my waiting hand.

A chocolate cupcake with pink frosting.

My absolute favorite.

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