Then he’s gone, whistling as he walks, leaving me standing in the dust, still staring at the girl who’s got my kid wrapped around her finger.
By the time Teddy’s done, he’s spent. His head rests against my shoulder, fingers clutching the collar of my shirt as I carry him. Olivia’s brushing Blue down, hair loose in the wind now that she’s not wearing her hat. It’s… disarming, how easily she fits into his world. My phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking whatever spell I’ve fallen under. I shift Teddy carefully and answer.
“Mother,” I say, bracing myself.
“When are you bringing Teddy over?” she asks, skipping any kind of greeting. Her tone is brisk, clipped. “Jack and Lily are staying the night. Sandra and Andrew have date night, so I thought I’d have all the grandkids.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, already knowing this wasn’t a suggestion. “That right? You just decided that?”
“Well, yes,” she replies, as if I’m the unreasonable one. “It’ll be good for them. You didn’t say no yet, so I assume you’re already on your way.”
She’s impossible to argue with—has been since I was old enough to try—so I don’t waste my breath. “Fine,” I mutter, shifting Teddy again. “We’ll head over after I stop in at the house.”
“Lovely,” she says, a little too cheerfully now that she’s gotten her way. “I’ll see you both soon.”
Olivia’s already leading Blue back toward the stables by the time I hang up. I smooth a hand across his back, the flannel of his shirt soft beneath my palm. “How does a sleepover at Nana’s sound, mate?”
His head pops up, those brown eyes squinting up at me. “Tonight?”
“Yeah.” I can’t help the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Tim and Lily are going too.”
He straightens, trying to play it cool, but the excitement’s already spilling through. “Can I bring my toys?”
Histoys, meaning his cars and blocks. The things that make him feel safe. “Course you can, champ. Bring whatever you need. You can even take your storybook for Nan to read.”
Olivia approaches then, brushing the dust from her jeans. “Sleepover at Nana’s, huh?” she says, rubbing at his small back. “That sounds like fun.”
Teddy’s eyebrows jump. “Can Olivia come for the drive?”
I open my mouth, already shaking my head. “I’m sure Liv’s got better things to do than hang around with us all afternoon.”
“Don’t listen to your father, champ,” she says, flashing him a wink. “You’re way more important than mucking out stalls. I used to love sleepovers at my Nan and Pop’s when I was your age.”
He peers up at her curiously. “Why did you stop?”
There’s so much innocence in his question, it guts me. Olivia pauses, just for a second, glancing up toward the sky before she answers. “Well… because my Nan and Pop aren’t here anymore.” She softens the words with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “But hey, only the cool kids get to do it now.”
Teddy tilts his head thoughtfully. “Can I sleep over when I’m older, too?”
“Uh, sure,” she says, glancing sideways at me like she’s waiting for me to jump in.
I snort, adjusting Teddy’s weight on my hip. “Don’t say that too loudly in front of Nana. She’ll have a room redecorated by morning.”
Olivia’s laughter rings out—loud and unguarded—straight through me. God, that sound. It’s warm and messy, and completely unfair. The sound that leaves me is somewhere between a sigh and a growl.
The windows are down, and the late afternoon sun spills over the car’s dash as we drive in silence back to Olivia’s house.After dropping Teddy off, I had to physically pry Olivia from the lounge when it was time to go. Now she’s quiet, scrolling on her phone, humming softly along to whatever’s on the aux. She’s already changed the music three times since we pulled out—country to rock to pop, and now we’ve landed somewhere deep in Disney territory. When I asked, she said it was her Existential Crisis playlist. All I could do was snort.
“Your mum really is lovely,” she says finally, tone light but teasing. “You didn’t tell me she’d make me join her Sunday baking club.”
I grip the wheel tighter, fighting a smile. “You weren’t supposed to join anything. That was a drop-off, not afternoon tea.”
“She offered cake. You expect me to say no to cake?”
I fight the urge to laugh. “You’ve got no self-control, Trouble.”
“Maybe not,Bash,” she says, eyes glinting. “But I make friends easily. Can’t help it if your mum likes me better.”
I shake my head, knowing better than to argue. Because it’s true. My sister, Teddy, hell, even Diesel, who barely tolerates human existence, has decided she’s worth the exception. She tilts her head, studying me in that way that makes me feel dissected. “So… what are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”
