Page 64 of Protect

“I think it’s time for us to get going, what do you think, Nana?” Dad asks Mom. My mom looks between us again and decides to make a graceful exit, although I know she’s dying to stay.

“Can you stay?” Hollie turns her eyes up to Rowan who looks at me. I nod, because I’m not going to say no, especially when Hollie never takes to anyone this easily. Leave it to Rowan’s easy demeanor to charm her.

“Can I have all the popcorn I want?” he asks, taking a seat on the sofa.

“If Mommy says so,” she answers, practically with a little shrug. “Do you likeSuperPets?” The way Hollie asks sounds like there’s no way he wouldn’t know what that is.

“All the other superheroes I know have told me about theSuperPets, but I’ve never watched it,” he says, his eyes moving to mine.

Hollie’s eyes light up at the prospect of adding anotherSuperPetsfan to her life.

“Can we, Mommy?”

I nod. “One episode, Hols, and then it’s time for bed.”

She smiles excitedly, scooting up onto the couch beside Rowan with her popcorn. She holds her bowl up to him and says, “cheers,” which is something we do when we’re having the same snack.

Rowan doesn’t hesitate, he reaches his bowl out and taps it to hers. “Cheers,” he says, looking down at her with an easy smile. I pick up the remote and point it at the TV because the way the two of them look side by side on the sofa like they’re the oldest of friends? Well, there go my ovaries.

I put on Hollie’s favorite episode as my mom kisses her on the head, and Rowan says goodbye to my parents. The theme song starts to play as I walk them to the door.

“Not one word,” I tell them as they put their shoes on in my foyer. My dad holds his hands up in truce with an odd goofy grin.

“Why would we say a word? Just because you’ve been back in town for all of, what? Five minutes? And you two are already spending time together? Probably means nothing.” He winks.

My mother kisses me on the cheek. “Have fun, Vivi,” she says with a grin.

“Goodbye, world’s nosiest parents,” I say with a smile, closing the door to the sound of their snickers.

How do they always just know?

As I make my way back into the living room, I pause at the door listening as Hollie chatters on to Rowan, reminding myself that this is fine. I’m still in control here.

“He can fly,” she tells him with a mouthful of popcorn while pointing to the screen.

“If I could choose a superpower, that’s what I would do,” Rowan says, like he’s in discussion with any friend as opposed to a three-year-old.

“Why?” Hollie asks, using her favorite word.

Rowan shoves another handful of popcorn into his mouth and thinks carefully as Hollie reaches forward. He takes over, grabbing her sippy cup of milk off the table and handing it to her. She takes it from him eagerly and has a big sip.

“I’d want to fly ’cause then I could fly out of any place that wasn’t safe and save anyone who was with me,” he says as he picks up a bottle of water my parents must have offered him and opens it.

“Power Piggy can fly,” Hollie says matter-of-factly.

“Then he’s my favorite,” Rowan says.

“He’s my favowite too,” Hollie says as she happily munches beside her new friend before reaching into the pile of stuffies beside her and pulling out one of her three Power Piggy’s and handing it to him.

Rowan looks down at the tattered pig and takes it from her.

“You can’t keep him, but youcancuddle him,” Hollie clarifies.

Rowan laughs at her genuinely. “Okay, I’ll just let him be my buddy while we watch, how’s that?” he asks her.

“Power Piggy and Super Rowan!” Hollie says, giggling, holding up her cup.

“Cheers” she adds.

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