Page 25 of Moose

Maddox and I walked inside to the giggling of the girls. He went up toward his room as I turned into the kitchen to get dinner ready.

I wasn’t sure what I was doing, asking Lily to stay, but I knew it felt right.

Chapter Five

Lily

AfterNovahadshownme everything in her room, I wandered back downstairs into the kitchen. Moose was already hard at work on something, so I leaned on the counter and waited until he looked up.

“I’m not a great cook so I don’t have much to offer.”

Moose laughed and put a bowl in front of me.

“Can you make a salad?”

I nodded. “That I can do.”

I chopped up carrots and other veggies when Moose nudged me.

“Hey... I just wanted to say sorry for losing my shit earlier. This is just... well, it’s fucking scary, Lily. I do trust you but these kids-”

I put my hand up to stop him.

“I know. Your kids are your entire life. If you trust me, let me do my job. This isn’t my first case, Moose.”

He sighs. “It’s just hard to give up that control, especially when it comes to my kids.”

“I get it, Moose. I really do.”

We worked in silence before I finally broke it.

“Soo... what do you do in the club?”

He laughed and leaned on the counter, crossing his arms across his broad chest.

“I’m the tech guy.”

“Tech?”

Moose laughed again. “I know, hard to imagine. But I love all that shit.”

“Hmm. Would have never expected you to be a nerd.”

We both laughed as we made dinner. I looked at him while he was putting the lasagna into the oven.

“So since you’re a nerd, do you love star wars and all that shit?”

Moose bursted out laughing. “Yeah, smartass. I love that shit.”

We both sat on the stool by the kitchen island and he bumped me with his leg.

“Tell me more about you. All I know is you love expensive shit and giving me a hard time.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Accurate. But I’m more than just fancy shoes, Moose.”

“So tell me, woman.”

Taking a deep breath, I decide to open up.