Page 144 of Forever Flames: Padraig & Stevie
“You don’t have to. I’m here for your protection.” She circles something with a sharpie. “This one’s perfect if we put your hair up and do a deep part.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Whose wedding is this again?”
“Ours.” She scrolls to the next video. “We’re a package deal.”
I’m about to fire back when I hear the front door click open. Jude barrels past us in socks, nearly wipes out.
“Raff!” Jude tears through the kitchen into the living room at full speed, arms flailing. “Mission’s starting!”
“Hey! Slow it down. This isn’t a Marvel stunt reel!” I lean into the hallway.
He crashes into the doorframe and recovers instantly. “I’m not stunting! We’re on a time crunch!”
“For what?”
“Secret ops! I told Raff to stay hidden!”
“He’s under the table.” I gesture toward the dining room.
“Perfect. Sector Safehouse secured.” He crouches and clicks an invisible earpiece. “Raff, come in. We’re go for extraction.”
From beneath the table, Rafferty responds, deadly serious, “Copy that. Time for snacks.”
Kellan coos in agreement, drool sliding down my arm.
“Padraig’s bringing home dinner, boys.” I catch Jude’s arm as he rushes past. “One Go-gurt each and nothing more.”
Somewhere above the chaos, the front door opens.
The door opens behind me. Isla steps inside, her boots landing soft against the tile. She hangs her backpack on the hook, peels off her hoodie, and walks past me to the counter without a word. Phone in one hand, eyes fixed on the floor.
Something’s off.
I set Kellan gently in his rocker and move toward her.
She pulls open the fridge and stares into it without moving. Then the pantry. Then back to the fridge.
I lean on the opposite side of the counter. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Hungry?”
Shrug.
“Rough day?”
Shrug.
“Want to talk about it?”
She exhales through her nose, then opens the cereal cabinet and yanks out the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Pours herself a bowl and eats it dry.
“No milk?” I raise an eyebrow.
“No mood.”
I wait.
