Page 17 of Lipstick Kiss

The supply cupboard wasn’t far. When she got there, it was unlocked. A silent thanks to the premises staff for getting her note.

Freya walked into the dark room, pulled the drawstring above her and tilted her head to see where the ironing boards were kept. She tiptoed towards them when she spotted them and then kicked the bottom.

“What are you doing?” Luke asked, his shoulder leaning against the doorframe.

He had his arms crossed, and his hip cocked, one side dropping down.

“Telling the spiders I’m here. Giving them a chance to run for it.”

“Still scared of the beasties?”

“That’s your fault, Luke. You locked me in the vault and wouldn’t let me out. All those webs told me there were spiders bigger than my head.”

“The door jammed. You were in there for thirty seconds, max.”

“Enough time for all the creepy crawlies to run over me. I still swear a tarantula dropped on my head.”

“There are no tarantulas on Copper Island.”

Not satisfied, she kicked the ironing board again.

“So you say.”

“So the scientists say.”

Freya huffed and lifted the first ironing board, and brought it over to Luke.

“Hold that,” she said with a sour face.

“You’re cute when you’re angry, not letting go of something that happened when we were eight.”

“I have a long memory.”

She brought over three more boards and clapped her hands together to get rid of the dust.

“Let’s go. You can carry them as punishment.”

“What for?”

“All the scrapes you got us into over the years.”

“You liked those times. I miss those times. Speaking of which, when will we work on the gravestones?”

“What about Saturday? I have the day free, and it looks like it will be good weather.”

“It’s a date.”

Luek took two boards under each arm and marched them back to the classroom with Freya following. She took more notice than usual at his powerful arms carrying the boards like they were made of cardboard.

They entered the room to find all eight of the occupants in silence, swinging their legs back and forth.

“I miscounted. I need another one. Can you get these set up? The irons are in the case by my desk.”

“Sure. Do I get a reward for helping?” he asked.

Freya looked around the room to see a row of amused faces.

“What reward do you want? I might consider it.”

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