Breaker glares at the child, who has absolutely zero fear and sticks her tongue out at him. “I agreed to fix the float’s structural frame. The rest was not part of the contract.”
“You never asked about the contract,” the girl says sweetly, brushing more glitter on him. “You just said you were here to help. That was your mistake, and it’s too late to back out now. Besides, why are you mad? You look pretty.”
I lose it, doubling over, my hands holding my stomach. “You do look so pretty.”
Breaker glares at me, even though there’s pink shimmer on his nose. “Sparrow. Don’t. You. Dare.”
I straighten, wiping tears. “This is adorable. You know I really love you, right? Especially when you’re so pretty.”
The girls erupt collectively. “Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!”
Breaker blushes — actually blushes, which is surprising to see beneath the glitter and makeup on his cheeks — and says, “I love you too, but if you tell anyone in the club about this, I’ll…” He stops, looking at the girls’ expectant little faces. “I’ll… tickle you.”
One girl turns to another and whispers loudly. “He doesn’t really mean tickling. He’s talking about something else.”
The second girl whispers back. “What is it?”
The first girl shrugs, her sash saying “TROOP COOKIE BOSS” moving up and down with her shoulders. “I dunno. I’ve heard my mom and dad doing it. He always calls her a bad girl. They keep the door closed, but it sounds like my mom likes it.”
“Oh, that sounds fun. I want to be tickled, too.”
I clap a hand over my mouth. “Girls, behave yourselves.”
I walk toward Breaker, stepping over sequins and glue sticks, and loop my arms around his glittery, boa-wrapped neck.
“You really don’t mean it about the club,” he says.
“It’s too late,” I say. “Your worst nightmare has come true. Everyone in the MC already knows. How do you think I found you? Havoc and Bones were talking.”
A Girl Scout nearby gasps. “Bones? I hope he comes here! He’s handsome.”
Another girl snorts. “No way, his face looks like a butt. Hammer though… I want to tickle him.”
Breaker gives me a searching look. “Everyone knows? Oh…” He stops himself, a heroic effort playing out behind his eyes. “…poop.”
Officer Alvarado frowns. “Language.”
“Are you serious?” Breaker says.
“I’m serious enough that I’ll tell your president to add another day to volunteering time. How would you like that?”
“Not at all… ma’am,” Breaker says.
I brush aside some of the glitter, move the boa, and shift the ruins of his dignity, then I slide my arms around his sparkly neckand kiss him — slow and sweet — getting glitter all over my lips, my cheeks, probably my soul.
“I love you,” I murmur, breathless. “Even when you’re covered in glitter.” I kiss him again. “No, let me correct that: especially when you’re covered in glitter.”
Breaker groans like a dying warrior, which makes the Girl Scouts squeal with delight.
I turn toward them with a grin, my hand still resting on Breaker’s glitter-coated chest.
“You know what?” I say brightly. “What do you say we get back to work, girls? Maybe I can show you some other makeup tricks I learned.”
The entire troop gasps as if I just announced free ponies, while Breaker’s eyes widen in slow horror. “No, wait. Riley, you don’t want to do this.”
But it’s too late. The Girl Scouts swarm him like sparkly, hyperactive piranhas, shrieking with joy.
Officer Alvarado laughs. “Congratulations, Riley. You’re officially the troop’s new beauty consultant.”
