It had been the exact wrong thing to say. I had no idea why, but something closed up in her face and her arms came up to cross over her middle. Shit. What had I said? Something about her getting taller? I didn’t know why that would upset her, but she was like a different kid, scowling and hunched up and refusing to make eye-contact with me.
Two steps forward, three steps back,I thought glumly as we made our silent way to the next area.
After fifteen more minutes of grumpy silence, I was about ready to call it quits. Maybe we should have gone to a movie or something—at least there it wouldn’t be so obvious that my daughter was ignoring me.
Just when I was about to suggest it, Josie’s face changed again—surprised excitement, this time. “Hey, that’s Miss K!”
My head snapped in the direction she was looking, my gaze immediately landing on a red-haired woman standing with a blond boy who looked to be a little older than Josie.
“Can we go say hi?” Josie asked.
“Sure.” Like I was going to say no to a chance to talk to Gracie.
I knew Josie must be feeling shy, because she let me hold her hand while we approached her teacher.
“Hey there, Miss K,” I said, and Grace spun in our direction, surprise written all over her face.
“Liam,” she squeaked, eyes wide, fingertips immediately moving to her collarbone. She stared at me for a long moment before she seemed to shake herself and remember that her student was also there. “Josie! It’s so nice to see you, girl!”
Josie beamed and I remembered what Evelyn had said about her being crazy about the teacher. I had to agree—I hadn’t seen Josie smile so big since we got to Texas. She looked even happier than she had when she saw the pool in our backyard.
“Elliot,” Grace said, nudging the little boy forward. “This is one of my students, Josie O’Conner. Josie, this is my friend, Elliot.”
“Hi,” Josie said, shy.
“What’s up,” the boy replied, the picture of ten-year-old cool.
“Elliot is my best friend’s son,” Grace explained, more to me than Josie. “I’m babysitting today.”
The kid scoffed. “You mean you’re lucky enough to hang out with greatness,” he said, and Gracie flicked his arm, grinning.
“Sometimes it’s really obvious you’re Peyton’s son,” she said drily. “Your mom is full of herself too.”
“It’s easy to be full of yourself when you’re this cool, Auntie G,” he said.
Josie giggled and Grace rolled her eyes.
“Ignore him,” she instructed Josie. “How are you liking Zilker? Is this the first time you’ve been here?”
Josie nodded. “I really liked the waterfall! But it wasn’t as big as the ones we saw in Jamaica.”
“Wow,” Grace said. “I’ve never been to Jamaica before. That must have been pretty great.”
“We usually go somewhere over the summer when Daddy isn’t playing hockey,” Josie said, all shyness apparently forgotten.
Her words had the boy’s eyes snapping up to my face. “You play hockey?”
“That’s right,” I tell him. “I’m a center for the Sting.”
“That’s Andy’s team!” It was funny to hear this kid call one of the world’s most successful billionairesAndy. I smiled over at Gracie. She must be pretty close with this kid, and his mom, if he was that comfortable with her brother.
“We’re going to one of your games,” Elliot continued. “Auntie G said we can all sit in Andy’s box.”
“Sounds impressive,” I said. “Hopefully we can show you a win.”
“My daddy is the team captain,” Josie said, and I couldn’t help but grin at the pride in her voice.
Grace shook her head. “Still can’t believe it.”
