Page 24 of Things We Left Behind
Stef snorted. “I know. Geez, Sloane. Stop making everything about your recently departed father already.”
We were all still laughing when Jeremiah returned with the blender and the pizza.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, handing me the entire pizza tray.
“Oh, I was just telling everyone what Knox did during the last snowstorm,” Naomi said innocently.
4
Ambushes and Angels
Lucian
It’s showtime,” Nash said, stifling a yawn as another gun battle raged on screen.
My gaze flicked to the laptop on the ottoman. Sloane’s front door was open, and five bundled-up adults appeared to be tiptoeing down the porch steps.
The smallest of the shadowy figures drew my attention. Just as she always did.
“My wife insists they’re getting ready for bed,” Knox said, holding up his phone.
“Your wife and my fiancée are beautiful liars,” Nash said, getting up to stretch.
The dogs perked up on the couch, sensing the activity around them.
“It’s eleven o’clock at night during a snowstorm. How much trouble could they get into?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past them to hack into a nuclear reactor,” Knox muttered, heading for the foyer.
Nash followed. “Never a dull moment,” he said fondly.
I watched them stagger and stomp their way toward my place. I sighed and rubbed my hands over my thighs. Waylon peered at me from under one long, floppy ear, begging me with sad brown eyes to stay on the couch so he wouldn’t be forced to go outside.
“Sorry, Waylon,” I told the dog and headed after the Morgans.
“You joining us in the lady wrangling?” Nash asked as he pulled on his boots.
“You’re outnumbered,” I pointed out. “My gear is in the mudroom. I’ll meet you out there.”
“Hang on,” Knox said. He was peering through the sidelight window. “They’re behind my truck. I can’t tell what they’re doing.”
“Smells like an ambush to me,” Nash said, shrugging into his coat.
There was a grumble, a thump, and then a smaller thump from the living room. Both dogs appeared. Waylon looked pissed off about his interrupted nap. Piper looked thrilled to be included in the manly conference.
“An ambush?” I repeated.
“I may have hidden on the porch roof during the last snowstorm, rolled an arsenal of snowballs, and then destroyed Naomi and Way when they came home from the mall,” Knox said.
Love turned men into idiots.
Knox’s phone lit up in his hand. He rolled his eyes and turned the screen to us.
Naomi:We just saw a bear outside! It ran toward Lucian’s house! Do you see it?
“Definitely an ambush,” Nash said, yanking his Knockemout PD knit hat over his head.
“Can’t believe Jer is out there with them. He’s supposed to be my friend.” Knox heaved a heroic sigh. “Guess I should probably face the firing squad alone.”
