I might be an asshole, but I have a heart.
Also, did she saytea?
I’m not fluent in toddler—preschooler—whatever she is, but I swear she saidtea.
I haven’t had a good cup of tea in the two months since I left England.
I look at Goldie in completeI am a worthless man whose only redeeming quality today might be stopping your niece from crying even though this is a terrible, awful, horrible idea, and also, when she says tea, what does she mean?
She squeezes her eyes shut and blows out a breath. “Okay. Okay.” And then she adds, very strictly, “But no pictures.”
I swallow.
Stern librarian Goldie is fucking hot.
“Agreed.”
“My fwend wide horses and come to tea wif us?” Hallie says again, tugging on Goldie’s hand while she sniffles.
“He can come along, but he might be too big for the horses, and he might be too busy for tea.”
She said tea.
She said tea.
“He not too big,” Hallie says.
Goldie squats in front of her to get down on her level. “This isyourbirthday date, Hallie. Are you sure you want someone else with us?”
Ingrid hands Hallie a sticker, which the little girl takes and meticulously places on her knight costume right in the center of her stomach.
It’s a dragon.
It’s a freaking dragon sticker.
Kid’s three, and she’s starting her collection of badges for all the dragons she’s slain. Sideways, but she’s wearing it.
I like it.
“He come too,” Hallie says. “And he wet me pet his dog and he buy ice keem.”
“Before or after tea?” Goldie’s completely straight-faced.
Fuck yes,tea.
“Bof.”
“We might not have time.”
Hallie stares at her.
Goldie stares back with arched brows. “It’s your birthday, but even birthday girls can’t control time.”
“I can,” Hallie replies petulantly. So very much like her father.
Ingrid snickers softly.
“And you’re sure you want Fletcher to come along?” Goldie asks.
