Page 498 of Lodestar

“Why do you do cartwheels inside the house? Tornado Tina.”

She giggled at the nickname but then, her laughter faded. “Can I have a coat rack tree so that I don’t have to spoil your tree?”

I shot her a grin. “Sure you can. I’m surprised I didn’t think of that myself.”

Unless…

She beamed a smile at me.

Nah.

I hadn’t just been…

No.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “You knew the tree wasn’t a coat rack.”

“Nuh-huh.”

“Did your mom put you up to this?”

“My—” She blinked. “Mom.” Just when I thought she was drifting into a dissociative state, she sighed. “No. Mom didn’t.”

Because I figured she was testing it on her tongue, I left her alone, mostly as it was cute listening to her repeat the word under her breath.

As I drove us to her school where the gym session was located, I played some songs. It was only when she started singing along to one that I realized Star must have listened tonoxxiousin her time. Otherwise, Kat wouldn’t know the lyrics.

The thought had me hiding a smile.Andsending her a song.

Me: Tired Of You - Foo Fighters

Star: Should I be offended?

Me: Just listen to the damn song.

An hour later, I was sitting eating crudités and ranch dip, watching Kat do some weird shit in the air, when a woman sat down beside me.

“I always forget to bring snacks,” she said with a sigh before she turned to me and shot me a smile. “My name’s Ali Hart.”

I recognized that last name. “I think your kid is the kid my…” What did I call her? “…daughter…” Not entirely the truth, but it was good enough for me. Plus, I liked how it sounded. “…spat on because he was being rude to one of the cafeteria staff?”

Cheeks flushing, Ali Hart released a nervous laugh. “That’s water under the bridge. Just a misunderstanding.”

I frowned at her and turned to the side, angling away from her so she knew I didn’t want to talk.

Returning to my carrot stick, I held it between my teeth so I could clap when Kat proved that, in the gym, she was hot shit on the mat—seemed as if she were only deadly when there were antiques in the vicinity.

“She’s good,” Ali praised, sidling closer. “I know coach is saying she wants Katina to come for extra classes.”

“How do you know that?”

“Charles told me.”

“Why does Charles know?” I asked suspiciously.

She gave a tinkling,read annoying, laugh. “I think he has a little crush on her.”

“How cliché of him,” I mumbled under my breath.

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