Page 35 of Innocent Princess

"Well, I love it," I say softly.

Her smile is kind when she puts her arms around me. "Let's check out the workshop outside, then I'll take you to meet the horses. We have two. Have you ever ridden a horse?"

14

Ryker

Sittingat the big wrought iron patio table, I'm lost in the moment while I watch Zella toast marshmallows with her mom. The sun sets, and darkness is quickly approaching. Dinner was easy. Truthfully, everything has been pretty easy since we arrived yesterday afternoon. Zella is on cloud nine, and I can't say I blame her. Anna and Fred are amazing people, who harbor so much love for a daughter they never knew.

They seem to all fit seamlessly together. At the risk of sounding like a tool, it makes my heart pound with a little more gusto.I made this happen. I won't take the credit for this meeting, but I won't deny that without me and my computer skills, this wouldn't have happened.

Zella pulls a marshmallow out of the fire and blows on it furiously then giggles at something Anna says in response to Zella's fifth burnt marshmallow.

I smile at the scene. Anna and Zella could pass as twins if it weren't for the fact that Anna doesn't hide her age. Know what they say, if you want to know what your girl will look like when she's older, just check out her mom. Not that Zella is my girl, but if she were, I definitely have something to look forward to.

And I totally just checked out her mom.

Chuckling, I bring the glass of iced tea to my lips and swallow it down. It's sweet tea, and I'm not a fan of it, but I'm going to drink what is offered.

I hear the screen door creak behind me, and Fred lumbers out. He stands next to me, laughing at the sight of them burning more marshmallows.

"I'm wondering if they'll run out of marshmallows before they get a decently toasted one," he muses. "Here, thought you might like this." He places a beer bottle in front of me, and I look up and tell him thanks.

He cups my shoulder, looks down at me as a fatherly expression crosses his face. "Thank you, Ryker. Thank you for finding us. We all needed this. She's lucky to have you." He moves to the seat next to mine and continues to stare out at them.

"I'd do anything to make Zella happy. This is what she wanted," I tell him honestly.

He nods.

I take a swig of my beer, glad to be drinking something other than the tea.

"Look! I did it, finally! Two perfectly toasted marshmallows!" Zella says, walking toward the patio.

"Nice." I laugh while Fred congratulates her.

"I brought you one." She carefully pulls the first marshmallow off and hands it to me, then the second. She studies her work with a smirk, then shoves the whole thing in her mouth. She's fucking adorable. I pop mine in my mouth and taste ash, but I don't complain.

She falls into the chair next to mine, Anna next to Fred. Easy conversation flows once again.

"Oh, my God! Are those fireflies?" Zella points out toward the backyard.

We follow her gaze.

Anna laughs as she speaks, "Yes, just wait. In about five minutes, you'll want to walk further out past where the porch light reaches and take it all in. There will be hundreds. While you're there, you should check out the stars. It's a clear night, so you'll see everything. Actually, let me get you a blanket." She jumps up and hurries inside.

"That sounds amazing." Zella sighs.

Soon after returning with a blanket, we walk into the darkness of the yard, alone. Anna and Fred head inside.

In the shadow, where the porch lights no longer reach, I lie out the blanket and sit down. Before she sits, Zella kicks off her flip flops. I grin to myself.

She's still, and just as I turn to look at her, she gasps. Immediately, I understand why.

Hundreds of fireflies creep up from the grass and float through the air—tiny flickers of light all across the yard and nearby field.

"It's breathtaking," she whispers.

I agree, but I'm not watching the light show anymore. My eyes are fixed on her. Her smile is a mile wide, and when she grabs my hand, I pull my eyes away from her beautiful face and look at our intertwined fingers.

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