“We should get to stay home today,” Lauren says around her bite of cereal.
Leah’s giving me a look that clearly expresses how she feels about going to school. “Yeah, G might need help in town.”
“I have a feeling Gia is capable of finding her own way around. Besides, today is the book fair. If you don’t go to school, you won’t get to pick out any new books.”
The girls look at each other, silently communicating in the way they always have.
“Can Gia come to the book fair?” Lauren asks.
“I don’t know what her schedule looks like.”
“Well, go ask her,” Leah demands.
“Ask me what?” Gia’s sleep-roughened voice has my stomach tightening. Her silky blonde hair has been thrown into a messy bun on the top of her head, and on anyone else, the matching pajama set would be chaste. On Gia, it highlights every one of her curves. I have to clench my fists to curb my desire to get my hands on her.
I turn to the coffeepot—instead of grabbingher around her waist like I’m dying to—and pour her a cup. I grab out the creamer and place both in front of her.
“Would you come to our book fair today? Dad won’t let us stay home from school,” Lauren asks her.
Gia gives me a shy smile and then looks back at Lauren. “You want me to come to your book fair?”
“Yeah! And you could meet my teacher too!” Leah wiggles in her seat.
I frown at the girls. They’re friendly to everyone, but to be this interested in a complete stranger is weird. Granted, she pulled me in within minutes of talking to her too. I can’t expect the girls to hold out any better than I did.
I probably could’ve found a different place for Gia to stay. Even though the Ice Festival does take the majority of the rooms in town, I’m sure there’s a vacancy somewhere.
But if I’m honest with myself, I wanted a chance to spend time with the woman I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for months. I need to know if she still thinks about that night the way I do. “Girls, Gia probably has to work today, just like I do.”
“But you’re coming to our book fair.” Lauren raises her eyebrow in the exact same way Hannah used to, and I have to swallow past the heartache. A year ago, something like that would have cut me in half. Now, it feels like a gift—little pieces of Hannah to remind me of all the good memories instead of just the bad.
“I knew about it ahead of time and could rearrange my schedule. Gia didn’t know about it until just now.”
The girls look at Gia, turning those bright blue puppy dog eyes up to full max.
Gia’s eyes widen. “I… Sure?”
“Yes!” The girls cheer.
“Do I need to be there at a certain time?”
“Leah’s class goes at ten thirty, and Lauren’s goes at eleven thirty,” I tell her.
“Got it.” Gia’s eyebrows furrow. “No, wait. Do you think I’ll be able to drive my car by then?”
“I doubt it. The tow truck company doesn’t open until eight, and I can only imagine how many other cars are waiting on the side of the road.”
“Daddy can take you! He’s going anyway,” Leah offers.
“And you guys could have lunch after you leave,” Lauren adds.
“Oh,” I start, not wanting Gia to be put on the spot. “I’m sure Gia has plenty of other things she needs to do today. Besides, she’s already spending her morning with you two pushy monkeys.”
“She has to eat, and she doesn’t have a car, Dad. It’s the kind thing to do.” Lauren’s tone is her no-nonsense one, which means if I don’t take Gia to lunch, there will be hell to pay when Lauren gets home from school.
Gia’s denim-blue gaze sparkles with mirth. “Sounds like my day is planned out.”
“Apparently mine is too.” I grab the girls’ empty cereal bowls to give myself something to focus on instead of how pretty Gia is. She’s fresh-faced and more gorgeous than anyone has a right to be at seven in the morning. “Everyone needs to be ready to go in fifteen minutes if we’re going to make it to school on time. The roads are going to slow us down this morning.”
