Page 134 of Wild Blades

Arms crossed, leaning against the doorjamb in complete awe, I’m watching Wade.

It’s Christmas day. We arrived at my sister’s house, which was my grandmother’s old house, an hour ago, and already Wade is making himself fit in as if he’s been part of the furniture for years.

“He’s making friendship bracelets with Bonnie.” Dana appears by my side.

“I know.” I can’t believe it. Something Michael never would have done. He had no time for kids or my family. Which Dana noticed early on and was one of the many reasons she never liked him.

“He’s nice,” she says.

“Yeah.”

“Really handsome.”

“Very.”

“Taller than you.” Which Michael wasn’t. Same height.

“Younger than me,” I counter.

“Does it matter?”

“To some it does.” I’ve blocked and deleted more comments and people from our social accounts over the last two weeks than I have since I started my career.

“And to you?” My sister sounds concerned.

“I don’t care.”

“You love him?”

“Yeah.” A goofy smile spreads across my face.

“That’s all that matters. I love him for you.”

“You’re supposed to be in love with me, not the hot hockey player who’s come for dinner.” Dana’s husband, Xander, kisses her neck from behind.

“He’s very nice to look at,” Dana teases my brother-in-law.

“I don’t care how he looks, just make sure we get those tickets he promised us next year.”

“I can hear you,” Wade announces, laughing.

“I think you’re really hot too, Wade,” Xander says dryly, making everyone laugh.

“He’ll say anything to get his hands on those tickets. He thinks you look like a moose,” Dana jokes, making Xander chase her through the living room.

“Shut up, woman. Stop telling him what I said earlier.” And I know they are lying because Wade looks like a GQ model.

My sister squeals as he catches up with her in the hall and I hear them laughing all the way into the kitchen.

“Your family is really nice,” Wade says as I sit down next to them and grab some string to make my own bracelet.

“My mommy and daddy like kissing.” Bonnie gives away their secrets.

“Which means they must really love each other.” Wade continues to loop the multicolored strings over and under, creating a knotted pattern as if he’s made one before.

“Do you love my Aunty Kal-Kal?” she asks in her sweet voice, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth in deep concentration.

“Absolutely.” He smiles, flitting his eyes at me, then away again.

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