Page 40 of Dancing in the Rain

Chloe went straight to her mom and slid into the recliner with her. With the two of them being so tiny, there was ample room for them both. She laid her head on her mom’s shoulder and the look on Sara’s face made Drew’s chest clench; her smile was sweet and full of love.

“I’ll go to hip-hop class, Mom,” Chloe said. “It’s my favorite.”

“Okay.” Sara stroked Chloe’s long hair back from her face.

Drew glanced at Peyton. She had her fingertips pressed to her mouth. As if sensing his gaze on her she turned to him and their eyes met. “Thank you,” she mouthed.

He lifted his chin.

“Can I show Drew my Xbox games?” Chloe asked her mom.

“Of course.”

Chloe rolled out of the chair, careful of her mother. “My games are in the family room,” she said. “This way.”

She led the way through the dining room, past the counter that separated dining room from kitchen, down a narrow hall, and into a bright room at the back of the house. A big, brown leather sectional on one wall faced white built-in bookshelves, an enormous television in the center. Chloe opened the cupboard doors beneath the TV and pulled out gaming consoles.

“This is a great room for gaming,” he commented. “Does your mom play with you?”

“Nah. She hates videogames. So does Peyton.”

“Well, then. What am I going to beat you at?” He rubbed his hands together.

Her laughter squeezed his heart. She pulled her long hair back into a tail behind her neck and released it. “You can’t beat me at Dark Club.”

“That’s probably true since I’ve never heard of it.” She wasn’t playing Call of Duty or Minecraft. Which was probably a good thing. “Bring it, honeybun.”

Chapter 9

“What were they talking about up there?” Sara quietly asked Peyton.

Peyton rolled her eyes and moved to sit closer to Sara. She only felt a little guilty about eavesdropping because she had to make sure Chloe was safe. “He was really good with her, Sara.”

“Yeah?” She sucked briefly on her bottom lip. “That’s good.”

“I shouldn’t have listened.”

“No, you have to! We don’t know him. Am I being paranoid and overprotective?”

“Of course not.” She paused. “She was talking to him about her birthday. She wants to have a party.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I want her to have a party. I just have no clue what to do. Obviously, I don’t think I’m up to elaborate decorations and food or even having a bunch of girls for a sleepover.”

“She mentioned this place that brings videogames to the house…I can check into it. And get a cake.”

“Oh. That would be so good. Thank you, Pey.”

“Of course. Want me to go check on them?”

Sara bit a fingernail. “Maybe just have a peek.”

“Okay. I’ll do that and then I’ll bring a few more of your things down to the den.”

They’d started the process of moving Sara downstairs, which the hospice nurse had definitely supported.

She poked her head into the family room to see them engrossed in the screen.

“You have to try to beat me to the start line in order to earn an extra rep,” Chloe told Drew seriously, and he nodded equally as intently.

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