“The next part of the test. Duh.”
“Oh right, sorry.” I pushed off the doorframe. “Come on, Emily. Apparently we’re making coffee.”
She followed me down the hallway into the kitchen, confusion radiating off her. “Do you have any idea what’s happening right now?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Should we be concerned?”
“Probably.” I started the coffee maker. “But they seem pretty committed to whatever this is, so we might as well go with it.”
Behind us, I could hear the girls in the playroom, giggling and shuffling around. Then footsteps in the hallway, getting closer. One of them passed the kitchen doorway, heading toward the laundry room.
Emily’s head whipped toward the sound. “What are they doing?”
The chest freezer opened with a creak. Closed again. More footsteps, faster now, running back to the playroom.
“I have no clue.” But I was starting to get concerned.
Whispered conversation drifted down the hall, too quiet to make out the words.
Emily leaned against the counter, close enough that her scent washed over me. It hit me harder than a jolt of double espresso.
I kept my eyes on the coffee pot because looking at her right now, flushed and smiling in my kitchen, felt dangerous. I handed her a mug, our fingers brushing for a fraction of a second. Heat shot straight up my arm.
This was fine. Just two friends, shooting the breeze. No need to think about how badly I wanted to touch her. And kiss her, And…Don’t do that.
Before my thoughts could spiral any further, Alice called out. “Emily! You can come back now!”
“Here we go,” she murmured.
I followed her back to the playroom, coffee in hand. Both girls were standing beside the daybed, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Okay,” Audrey said. “Lie down again.”
“Seriously?” Emily set her mug on the small table by the door.
“It’s very important.”
“Alright then.” She climbed back onto the daybed, settling in with exaggerated care. “Like this?”
“Perfect.” Alice grabbed the blanket folded at the foot of the bed. “Now close your eyes.”
Emily did as she was told and the girls moved forward with the blanket, clearly about to cover her.
But before they could even get it over her legs, Emily jackknifed upright with a yelp.
“What the hell?”
Both girls erupted into cheers, jumping up and down and clapping like they’d just won the lottery.
“I knew it!” Alice shrieked. “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!”
“Told you she was a princess.” Smug satisfaction was written all over Audrey’s face.
Emily stared at them, then down at the bed, then back at them. “What did you put under there?”
“Frozen peas!” Alice was still bouncing. “From the freezer in the laundry room!”
