Page 74 of Perfect Imperfections

She wasn’t a chef by any means, but Ellie supposed she could follow instructions. “Sure, what do I do?”

They spent the next twenty minutes making a massive pile of pancakes and an absolute disaster in the kitchen. By the time they all sat down to eat there was flour scattered about the countertops and floor. Drops of spilled batter and dirty dishes piled in the sink, and a slight stench of burning filled the air thanks to the Greens’ deciding she should be in charge of pancake flipping. After the first three burnt pancakes, Sullivan had switched her to batter pourer. Which was why they currently sat eating inkblot-cakes.

How did someone mess up pouring batter into a circle? She didn’t know, but somehow, she’d managed. Luckily, everything tasted delicious.

“Now that you and Daddy are special friends, does that mean I can come to the zoo whenever I want?”

Ellie choked on the bite of fluffy, cooked dough she’d just put in her mouth. Sullivan passed her a glass of milk with a small smile.

“No, Angel. You can’t go to the zoo every day just because Ellie works there.”

The big smile fell, green eyes filling with tears. Something sharp struck Ellie in the chest at the sight of that sweet little smile disappearing. When Charlotte’s tiny bottom lip poked out, the words rushed out of her without thought.

“You can come today if you’d like. I have the day off so I can show you around to some of the places normal visitors don’t get to go.”

The young girl’s face lit up again. “Really?”

“Of course, if it’s okay with your daddy.” She thought to add the second part, remembering she wasn’t Charlotte’s parent.

“Oh please, please, please, Daddy?”

Sullivan glanced from his daughter—holding her hands together like a prayer, big green puppy dog eyes to her father—to Ellie.

“I don’t see why not.”

“Yay!”

Leaning in close, his words were soft. “You are such a sucker.”

She scowled, but then noticed not a single tear had fallen from Charlotte’s eyes. The lip thing had been exaggerated too now that she thought about it. That little sneak. Smothering a grin, she whispered back, “Maybe, but you said yes, so that makes you as big a sucker as me.”

“Touché.”

A humorous sparkle lit his eyes. When his hand reached out to grab hers, she didn’t even think. She just fused her fingers with his, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Sitting here, with Sullivan and Charlotte enjoying a Saturday morning pancake breakfast. Why did it feel so…right?

“Knock, knock. Anybody home?”

Sullivan rolled his eyes, grimacing at his brother as Gavin strode into the kitchen.

“You know, most people actually knock before barging into other people’s homes.”

“I did.”

“No, you shouted knock knock as you burst in.”

Gavin waved his complaint away. “It’s Saturday. AKA pancake day. I didn’t want to make you get up. Besides, I have a key, so it was entering. Not barging.” His gaze fell upon Ellie. “Oh, hey, Ellie. You’re here early.”

Hazel eyes, flecked with a touch of brown, fell to where her hand was joined with his brother’s. A knowing grin spread his wide lips. His gaze came back up, brows bobbing.

“Or are you here late?”

“Ellie stayed the night.” Charlotte said with a big grin on her sticky face.

His amused glance shifted to Charlotte. “Did she now?”

“Yup. And we’re going to the zoo today.” Her face lit up like she had the most brilliant idea. “Uncle Gavin, you could come too!”

“Sure, Cheeky Monkey,” he chuckled. “That is, if your daddy and Ellie don’t mind.”

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