Page 40 of Rainbow Kisses

Then last night came back in a flood of images. The girls asleep on the floor. Brian asleep on the couch. And a bet on a hockey game, that no matter who won, I was going to dinner with Brian.

Sitting up, I realized I was the only one in the room. The giggles and whispers seemed to be coming from my kitchen. And I probably looked like a hot mess.

Glancing toward the kitchen at the back of the house, I caught a glimpse of Maddy leaning against the counter, but I couldn’t see anyone else. I snuck off the couch and tiptoed up the stairs to the bathroom, so I could at least make sure I didn’t look like a homeless person and swish some mouthwash so I didn’t offend anyone with my morning breath.

Back downstairs, I walked into the kitchen to find both girls clustered around Brian at the cooktop in the island, dropping chocolate chips on pancakes.

“Rainy, look what Brian made.” Krista grinned as she bounced up and down, pointing at the skillet, her hair a halo of curls around her head. “Hockey player pancakes.”

Brian looked up and caught my gaze with a grin of his own.

“Hope you don’t mind. Girls were hungry and you were out cold. We thought we’d let you sleep.”

“I don’t mind at all, unless you’re not going to feed me. Then we have a problem.”

“I think Uncle Brian made enough for the entire team.” Maddy rolled her eyes but her curved lips gave away a smile.

“Hey, I’m hungry,” He sounded offended. “Don’t worry, they won’t go to waste.”

“Did you find everything you needed?”

Brian’s mouth quirked. “Apparently, someone else has made pancakes in your kitchen before.”

“I knew where everything was, Rainy.”

Krista’s smile radiated joy.

“The girls have been a big help,” he said. “So all you have to do is sit and eat.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. “Let me just make some coffee and anyone want hot chocolate? Or chocolate milk?”

Maddy’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, I’ll have some of that.” Then she seemed to think twice as she looked at Brian, as if he had to agree. “Please.”

Brian just smiled and said, “I’ll have one of those too.”

Behind me, I heard Krista telling Maddy where to find the right glasses and telling everyone she’d get the forks, because I didn’t put them in the right spot and only she’d be able to find them.

I bit back a laugh because she wasn’t wrong. The utensils weren’t in any of the drawers. They were in a pullout bin in the cabinet next to the dishwasher because it was easier just to throw them in there after they’d been washed.

My laughter hitched to a stop when Brian leaned closer and said, “That little girl’ll be running the team in no time.”

He was close enough that I could smell the lingering scent of clean soap and the warmth of his skin.

“She’s so damn cute, no one can tell her no, so she pretty much gets away with anything. She’s a character.”

Maddy smiled as she let Krista order her around, following the other girl’s directions, and soon we all had plates of pancakes and glasses of chocolate milk that I made with Hershey’s Syrup, and coffee for me because if I didn’t have my coffee… Well, no one wanted that.

When Krista asked if she and Maddy could watch cartoons while they ate, I said of course and the girls made a beeline for the front room, leaving Brian and me alone and staring at each other across the island.

“Sorry for falling asleep last night,” he said. “Totally didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Nodding my head toward the small table in front of the window that looked out on the back yard, we sat and started on the mountain of pancakes Brian had made. Some had chocolate chips. Some had blueberries. I hadn’t even known I had blueberries. Must have been in the freezer.

“No problem. I’m sorry you had to sleep on my couch, though.”

“Honestly, that couch is pretty damn comfortable. Beats the one in our apartment, though it’s not that bad. I’m just sorry we’re interrupting your morning.”

“Brian, you’re not interrupting anything.”

---