Page 28 of Aftershock's Fury

Just as I’m about to jump out and head inside, the door to their second-floor apartment opens. They come down. Marnie is holding Oly’s hand while trying to carry everything and the kitchen sink that she thinks we’ll need for our day at the lake.

It's the Fourth of July, and I’m taking the girls to Big Lake for a couple of hours before we head to my brother’s place for a barbecue and some time at his lake too. I climb down from my truck and rush over to help her. I reach for the bags, but she points to Oly.

“Can you take Miss Priss, please?”

I lift her up into my arms. “Oh, Miss Prissy, are we having a day?” I ask the three-year-old. She’s such a cutie. I’m completely in love with her. Her long, dark hair is twisted into a braided bun on top of her head. She tugs on one of my braids.

“I wanna my braids down like yours.” She leans against me, tears filling her expressive blue eyes. She’s a miniature version of her mother, except for the eyes.

Marnie’s eyes are a pale golden amber. Her emotions are in her eyes; they always give her away. Her long, dark hair is in a retro rockabilly style, complete with a red handkerchief. She’s always so stylish and beautiful. She has tattoos on her arms and body that make me want more.

By the time I have Oly buckled into the spare car seat I bought for my truck, Marnie is already at the back, loading her things under the tonneau cover. I help her finish getting everything packed.

“Is that it?” I chuckle, and she shakes her head.

“I know it looks like I’m moving in, but when you have a kid, you’ll understand. I have to plan for every scenario.” I notice the extra backpacks that always go with her.

“Those extra clothes in case you spend the night?”

She turns away from me, and I’ve learned that’s her tell. She’s about to lie.

“Yep, just in case.”

“Okay. All locked up.”

“Just a moment.” Marnie rushes up the steps, and I climb into the driver’s seat. Fezzik is nuzzling into Oly and making her giggle.

“No, Ezzik,” she tells him, and he pulls away with a huff and sits on the floor of the truck.

As Marnie comes down the stairs in her high heels, the door below hers opens. A creepy-looking guy steps out and smiles at her. I open my door and step onto the running board.

“Ready, Marn?” I interrupt him, and she climbs into the passenger seat.

“Thank you so much, Harley. He’s so creepy.”

“I’ll have one of the guys come talk to him.”

“Oh no, don’t do that. I don’t want to make things worse.”

“It won’t.”

When I pull out onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, heading toward the coffee shop and town, she lets out a deep sigh. “I’m so excited,” she says. “It’s been so long since Oly and I did something away from the apartment.”

“Well, I’ll help get you out of the apartment more often.”

I turn the truck onto the Parks Highway, continuing on toward Big Lake. We pass Wasilla Lake, right in the center of town, packed with people enjoying the sun, heat, and holiday.

“So, how was your date last night?” Marnie wiggles her eyebrows.

“I want fry fries,” Oly says from the back seat.

“No, baby girl. I have snacks for you.”

“Oh kay,” she replies dramatically, as if it’s the worst thing in the world.

“Well?” Marnie pushes again.

“Fine. It was another night of him ending with just a deep kiss and holding me tight. I swear he’s broke or something.” I huff just as dramatically as Oly.

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