Page 64 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
She shrugged.
“She likes to poke people repeatedly until they open their eyes.” Georgia sat up. “I heard she slaps Super Dad on the forehead.”
“She does,” Maverick added as he walked past their open door. “Rebel, leave them alone and go finish getting dressed.”
“Okay,” she called after him. “We’re having savory oatmeal and eggs for breakfast and lasagna for dinner. He’s gonna get ice cream at the store too.”
“It was a good day if my dad made me Pop-Tarts for breakfast.” Georgia threw her blankets back, gracefully gliding out of bed as if she never heard the wordhangoverbefore. “You don’t even know how good you have it, little miss. Dibs on the shower.”
Rebel watched her go and then turned back to Lucky. “Yes, I do.”
“She’s just teasing. I don’t think she meant anything bad by that.”
Rebel nodded silently, gaze drifting to the bedspread. Oh, shit. Georgia must have struck a nerve.
Kids were far more perceptive than adults gave them credit for. Lucky didn’t know Rebel well enough yet to automaticallyzero in on the issue, but knew she was quite sensitive when it came to her dad.
Surprisingly, Rebel’s magical, fairy tale gaze didn’t extend to Maverick. She had a steady, realistic grip on who he was and what he meant to her. She wasn’t possessive; rather, devoted and protective were the better fit.
Lucky asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” Rebel shrugged.
“Would you like to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Okay. We don’t have to,” she said. “Do you want to talk about logistics for the shoot today?”
“We do that during the team meeting.”
“Oh, see, I didn’t even know that. Hennessee House is different since I live there. This is my first time on an official shoot, so I don’t know all the rules. Would you be okay with helping me out today, so I don’t look silly?”
“You won’t look silly. You’re allowed to ask questions if you don’t know something, but I’ll teach you everything you need to know anyway.” She nodded. “My dad said you’re supposed to follow my lead. I’m a good leader.”
Lucky smiled. “Thank you, Shortcake. I appreciate it.”
After breakfast and their first meeting, Lucky was in the middle of putting on her socks when she got another unknown call. She stared at the screen, not quite at her breaking point. Yet.
“Are you going to answer that?” Georgia demanded as she walked into the room.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Is someone harassing you? I swear I heard your phone buzzing nonstop last night.”
“It might be telemarketers. I started a spreadsheet to track what times they call. So far, there’s no discernible pattern other than often.”
Her money was currently on an automated bot trying to reach her regarding her car’s extended warranty.
Which was very nearly hilarious considering her car was so old the warranty probably ended before she’d even learned to walk. It was a small miracle the hand-me-down car hadn’t totally broken down from old age yet. Every time she started it, the engine sputtered to life and sent its usual barrage of pleading telepathic signals:LET ME RETIRE! LET ME DIE!
In return, she patted the sun-bleached dashboard while thinking,You’re fine. You’ve barely hit your Toyota prime.
“That is such ayouthing to do. Wait, where are your glasses?”
“Don’t need them in the house. Unless we’re having a visitor?”
“Since when?” Georgia gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “You weren’t wearing them when you came in the room last night. You readme? Oh my god, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
