“You do? That’s great, because sometimes I feel like I don’t.”
“You’re pretending to play house with Luke.”
Sophie laughed, because, yes, that was exactly how she felt.
“Well, it won’t work. He can’t be domesticated.” She waved her hand at the mudroom door. “He’s not like a puppy you can housebreak.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows when Luke came in. He froze in the doorway.
“Are you talking about me?” Luke asked.
Paige froze like a statue.
Sophie fought for something to say to break the tension. “You know, maybe we should go and pick out a tree before it gets dark.”
“But your ankle,” Luke said.
“It’s feeling better. A walk could do me good.”
“Why walk?” Mia chipped in. “Why not take the ATVs?”
“I’d forgotten all about those,” Sophie said, only she didn’t know how she could since they took up so much room in the barn. “I’m not even sure they still run.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” Mia asked.
“They might need gas,” Sophie said.
“Are you scared of the ATVs?” Luke asked.
“No.” Sort of.
“Well, I’m not going,” Paige said.
“That’s great,” Luke said. “Then you can stay here with Jamie.”
Panic filled Paige’s face. “But what if he wakes up?”
Luke pulled his phone from his pocket. “Then you’ll call me and we’ll come right back.”
Paige shot Mia a death stare.
“If you guys want to go, I can stay here with Jamie,” Sophie said.
“What? It’s your tree!” Luke put his arm around Sophie’s waist and steered her toward the mudroom. “Let’s get your coat.”
He opened the mudroom door and Atticus shot out.
Paige screamed and jumped onto the ottoman as Atticus tore through the kitchen and circled the living room. Luke went after him. Mia tried to tackle the dog, but landed face-first on the carpet. Sophie sank onto the sofa, laughing. Atticus jumped onto her lap.
Jamison began to cry.
Paige huffed, stalked from the room, and banged through the front door.
Sophie, still trying not to laugh, tucked Atticus under her arm, and climbed the stairs to get Jamison.
#
Luke trailed after Sophie.
