Page 81 of Forbidden Hearts
“Late night?” Chief Bettencourt asks as he slaps my shoulder. “You look exhausted.”
Yeah, I was doing rude things to your daughter until four AM.
Fuck my life.
“Just busy, that’s all.”
“How’s my baby girl? Is she behaving?”
I look up. “Phoebe is great with Olivia.”
“I mean with you. Are you guys getting on okay?”
What the fuck is happening? I swear I’m making up these words in my head. He can’t possibly be asking this.
“I’m not understanding,” I say for clarification.
“You and Phoebe don’t exactly get along. I had to basically threaten your job to get you to hire her. Did the two of you come to some kind of understanding and put the past behind you?” The way he says that makes it clear he thinks I’m an idiot.
“Yes, we definitely have an understanding now.”
One that includes naked time and secrets.
“Good. Has she said anything about school?”
Even if she had, I wouldn’t tell him. Whatever happened in Iowa, she isn’t talking about it. “Nope.”
He nods. “That girl can keep a secret just like her mother could, and she lets it eat at her.”
A text comes through, and speak of the devil . . .
Phoebe
We are coming to the station now.
Is everything okay?
Phoebe
Worrywart.
I glance up at her father. “Phoebe and Olivia are actually on their way here now.”
His chest puffs up, and the usually dour man actually seems excited. “Really? Wonderful.”
About two minutes later, Olivia rushes through the door with Phoebe right behind her. Our desk officer buzzes them through. Then Olivia runs to me and wraps her arms around my middle. I hug her tightly, and when I look over at Phoebe, I have to remind myself to breathe.
She really is bright like the sun, and looking at her for too long might cause me to go blind.
Her hair is pulled to the side and twisted into some braid thing. The same lightness I saw in her eyes last night is still there. Her cheeks redden when she looks at me, and then she turns her gaze to her father.
“Hi, Daddy.” Her voice cracks a little.
“Pleasant surprise,” Chief says, pulling her into his arms. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Olivia releases me, signing quickly. I shake my head.“Slow. I missed what you said.”
She rolls her eyes and starts again.“Phoebe has news.”
