Page 28 of Click of Fate

“He showed us how to do a special knot, but he said I was a natural.” Shes getting so excited.

“He must say that to all the six-year-olds,” I tell her with a wink.

Harper grins over her coffee.

“So, Aunt Stelly, did you know Luke is, like, the best climber ever?” she adds before leaning over her bowl to grab the cereal box, dumping more in her milk-filled bowl. She’s had two classes with him, and she’s already fully Team Luke.

Figures.

Without looking up, I mutter, “Shocking.”

Either my morning sass doesn’t register on my niece’s radar yet, or she’s used to it.

“Lilly, did you know Aunt Stella already knew Luke before your class?” my sister asks.

Lilly dramatically gasps as her cereal spoon clanks against the bowl.

“You knew him and didn’t tell me?!” asks—as if I withheld importantMy Little Ponynews from her.

Shooting another glare at my annoying sister, I tell her, “I am going to replace all your fancy coffee with gas station sludge.”

She just sips smugly, clearly enjoying my suffering.

Lilly, not caring about the sisterly annoyance that’s happening, pulls me back. “So, how do you know him? Did he teach you how to climb?”

Yeah, not getting into how we met with a six-year-old. “Something like that.”

Harper snorts into her coffee.

“Are you guys friends? Can we all go get ice cream together?”

Horrified, I snap, “No!”

Lilly pouts.

Harper gives me a knowing look.

“You do realize that between me and Lilly, there’s no getting rid of him, right?”

Groaning, I rest my forehead against the table.

“Alright, Lilly bug, it’s time for the bus. Go brush your teeth,” Harp says.

Lilly lets out a dramatic sigh and drops her spoon into her empty cereal bowl with a loud clink. “I just don’t get why we can’t go get ice cream with Luke.”

“Because, kiddo, it’s 7:30 in the morning, and ice cream is not a breakfast food.”

More pouting. Lilly is going for a record today. “Not with that attitude.”

I try not to laugh into my coffee. She’s relentless. I’ll give her that.

Harper glances at the clock. “Alright, sass queen. It really is time to get ready, you’ve got four minutes.”

Lilly slides off her chair but pauses halfway, gripping the table with both hands like she’s about to make a major announcement.

“Okay. Fine. But if I can’t have ice cream with Luke… can I get a puppy?”

Harper and I exchange a look. That came out of nowhere, but also, somehow, completely tracks.

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