Page 46 of Wolf's Whisper

"Olaf’s pretty cool," I interject, trying to hide my grin. "Pun intended."

Dillon looks at me with wide eyes. "But what if he’s right? What if I really do turn into Olaf? I don’t wanna melt in the summer!"

Janelle groans, muttering something under her breath about needing an extra coffee just to manage the chaos. I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table as I gave Dillon a serious look.

"Listen, buddy," I lower my voice like I was sharing some top-secret biker wisdom. "I’ve seen ‘Frozen’ probably a hundred times—don’t ask why—and not once has anyone turned into Olaf. You’re safe."

Dillon squint at me, clearly skeptical but wanting to believe me. "You promise?"

"Cross my heart," I draw an invisible X over my chest. "And you know what? If Abel keeps being a buttface, we can always make him watch it on repeat until he learns all the songs."

Janelle snorts into her hand, trying to stifle her laughter as Dillon’s eyes lit up with delight. "Yeah! We’ll make him sing 'Let It Go' in front of everyone!" he declares, already plotting Abel’s doom.

"Sounds like a plan," I say, winking at him.

"Thanks, Wolf!" Dillon beams before dashing back into the living room, yelling something about his new plan to his siblings.

Janelle shook her head, clearly torn between exasperation and amusement. "You’re such a bad influence," she smiles, her tone teasing as she grabbed two mugs from the cabinet.

"Hey," I said, my voice equally soft. "That’s what partners in crime are for."

Her cheeks flushed a light pink, and she busied herself pouring water into the mugs. "Partners in crime, huh?" her voice quieter now.

"That’s right," I reply, leaning back in my chair with a grin. "You, me, and the cookie heist crew out there. We’re unstoppable."

Janelle laughs softly, shaking her head. But she didn’t turn around immediately. Instead, she stood there for a moment longer than necessary, her hands resting on the counter's edge. I could see her shoulders rise and fall as she took a deep breath before finally turning to face me again, holding one of the mugs out.

"For your trouble," she said with a small smile.

I take the mug from her, our fingers brushing briefly. It was nothing—just an accident of proximity—but it still sent a little jolt through me. I didn’t imagine how her eyes flicked up to meet mine, either. “So I was wondering how you felt about getting a babysitter this weekend and letting me take you out on a real date?”

Her fingers tighten slightly on the mug she was still holding, her eyes widening just a fraction. I thought she might say no for a second—that I’d misread everything and put my foot in it big time. But then her lips curved into the softest smile, making my chest feel like it might burst.

"A real date, huh?" her voice teasing but warm.

"Yeah," I reply, trying to keep it casual even though my heart was beating loud enough to drown out the kettle's hum. "You know, the kind where you don’t have to yell at anyone for trying to stick crayons up their nose or negotiate TV treaties."

She let out a quiet laugh and shakes her head. "You make it sound so glamorous."

I shrug, sipping the tea she’d handed me before replying. "Well, I can’t guarantee it’ll be fancy. But I can promise good company, decent food, and maybe even a chance to relax for a whole evening. What do you say?"

Janelle tilts her head, considering me with that same soft smile. "You drive a hard bargain, Onyx."

"That’s my specialty," I say. With a smile, I rise from my seat and make my way over to her. She sets her cup down as I hug her, kissing her lips.

Before I could give her another kiss, Abel’s voice rings out from the living room. "Dillon’s trying to make me sing ‘Let It Go!’ MOM!"

Janelle groans, sinking against the counter and pressing her palms to her face. "This is our life now," she mutters.

I chuckle, setting my mug down and standing. "Want me to handle it? I’m pretty good at mediating disputes. Former Army and all that."

She peeks at me through her fingers, one eyebrow raised. "You’re seriously volunteering to step into that chaos?"

I roll up the sleeves of my flannel like I was heading into battle. "Absolutely. I’ve faced worse. Trust me, a Frozen-versus-Star Wars feud is nothing compared to wrangling a platoon of disgruntled soldiers." I kiss her.

Janelle chuckles, shaking her head in disbelief. "All right, Wolf. You’re on. But don’t say I didn’t warn you."

I salute her and stride toward the living room, where the three kids are mid-battle. This is my life, and I embrace it.

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