Lily stops struggling in Mac’s arms long enough to lift her head.
“B?”
Lily resumes her struggling. “PUT ME DOWN, YOU CANCEROUS OAF! THAT’S MY BEST FRIEND!”
“Stop wiggling, or I’m going to drop you!”
“That’s the whole point!” Lily huffs, attempting to kick him but failing miserably.
Mac releases a long-suffering sigh and, after Koen gives the okay, he lowers her to the ground while doing his best to avoid her fists.
Lily hits the ground and seconds later, I’m wrapped in a soul-crushing hug. “Oh my god, I thought you were dead!”
“I’m so glad you’re safe!” I squeeze her tighter.
“Auntie Lily!” Remi squeals, running over and tackling Lily out of my arms.
“Remicoaster!!!” Lily picks Remi up, spinning her around before settling her on her hip and booping her nose. Remi laughs.
“I think I need a tetanus shot...” Mac mutters, looking over his hand.
“Cry me a river, you wanna-be-action-figure,”Lily shoots back at him.
“You bit me!” Mac growls.
“Because you grabbed me!” Lily snaps.
“You were running!”
“I was just trying to go home!”
“Your apartment isn’t safe.”
“You’re telling me! I got kidnapped the second I walked into it!” Lily turns her attention back to me, shifting Remi higher on her hip before she drops her voice to a whisper. “Okay, what’s the plan? Who are we fighting? I’d say I’ll take the big man, but he’s way faster than he looks...”
The expression on her face is dead serious, and I can’t catch my breath. It’s not funny, but I can’t stop laughing, and trying to stop it from coming out is just making it worse.
While I struggle, Lily gives me a quick once-over, and Remi too, noting the cartoons on the television. “Are you okay? You look okay…” Her eyes narrow, darting around at the luxurious loft around us.
“Yes, we’re fine, look, it’s a long story but?—”
Koen steps closer, and I watch as Lily sizes him up.
“Hey, you! Yeah, you!” she says when he raises his brows at her, stealing a glance at me. “Are you the one in charge around here?”
“Jesus Christ...”I mutter under my breath.
“Don’t start that again,” Mac mutters from behind us, looking like he’s lived a thousand lives since I’ve seen him last.
I grab Lily’s arm, hoping to call off my attack dog. “Lily—Lily, that’s Koen.”
Lily’s head turns slowly in my direction.Koen???she mouths, and I nod slowly, my eyes flashing with hidden meaning. She drops her voice, talking into my ear while keeping her eyes on Koen ahead of her. “Oh my god, he’s hot. I hate that he’s hot. Do we still hate him?”
But Mac’s still close enough to hear her. “You think everyone’s hot.”
“Not you,” she snips back, giving me an irritated look.
“Sorry, I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” Koen says, giving me an amused look as he steps forward to offer Lily his hand. “I’m Koen.”
