Page 58 of Just My Luck

Without even thinking, I leaned forward, certain to catch her eye and hold her attention. “Hey.” I kept my voice soft, butserious. “That won’t ever happen. You’re always welcome here. No matter what.”

Tillie stared as if she was trying to figure out whether I was simply placating her. When I didn’t break eye contact, she held up her hand with her little pinkie sticking out. “Do you promise?”

Without hesitation, I hooked my pinkie with hers. “I promise to never kick you out.”

A grin spread across her freckled face, and my heart clanged against my ribs.

“Something smells good.” Sloane’s warm voice floated into the kitchen, and I tensed, straightening and busying myself with clearing the mess. I knew as soon as I turned to see her, my heart would stop in my chest.

“Abel is making eggs and bacon and orange juice,” Tillie proudly said.

“Ohh, fancy.” Sloane hummed.

“That’s what I said!” Tillie shouted with a giggle.

I turned and was hit with the full force of Sloane’s beauty. Her hair was mussed from sleep, and she was wearing another one of my T-shirts, this time with a pair of her pajama shorts on the bottom. My heart fumbled over itself.

Sloane moved behind the island, letting her hand drag across my back as she slid into the space next to me. “Can I help?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t seen Ben this morning. I’ve got the rest handled.”

Sloane turned to her daughter. “Tillie, can you go make sure Ben is awake?” The little girl hopped off the stool and eagerly started down the hallway. “Kindly!”

Sloane turned to me. “So you left pretty quickly last night.”

My jaw worked. She didn’t sound mad, more playful, and it caught me off guard. I’d expected hurt and disappointment but not humor. “I figured you didn’t want to confuse the kids.”

She hummed and plucked a piece of bacon off the plate. “Confuse the kids or confuse yourself?”

I pinned her with a glare.How did she know? Was she aware of the mental gymnastics I’d been performing all night?

She raised her hands and grinned around a mouthful of bacon. “I was just asking.” I grumbled and she only laughed. “Let me worry about the kids. I’ll talk to them soon.”

My eyes went wide. If the kids knew about our arrangement, everything would be out in the open.

I cleared the tightness in my throat. “Tillie suggested you share the bed. You know... to be a good friend and all.”

Sloane grinned. “Is that so?”

I lifted a shoulder. “She says you take sharing very seriously.”

Sloane hummed around a bite of bacon. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

Nerves simmered under my skin as my knee bounced. “How much are you—with the kids, what are you...?”

She laughed again and patted my back. “Relax. I’ve got this. They’ll know enough to not be confused, but I’m not going to tell them everything. Some secrets I’m keeping for myself.” She gave my butt a quick squeeze and I jumped. Sloane stole another piece of bacon and walked back toward her bedroom before she shot a hot look over her shoulder.

I am completely fucked.

At the brewerymy sister Sylvie’s head popped into my office, and she scowled. “You’re avoiding me, and I want to know why.”

I pushed back from my desk. “I’m not avoiding you.”

I was absolutely avoiding her.

“Bullshit.” She moved into the doorway with my nephew Gus propped on her hip. She rubbed her nose on his. “Shh. Don’t tell your dad I said that in front of you.”

The toddler cooed and tugged a strand of her blond hair.

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