Speak of the devil. Kyle’s irritating face draws my gaze to the doorway. I snap my eyes back to my computer as he saunters in, just like five days ago.
I keep my focus on my screen as he walks up beside me and leans his hips against my desk, right beside my seat. He kicks his feet out in front of him, and I feel his stare on my face like a burning laser.
Without looking, I growl, “Get off my desk.”
He breathes a small laugh through his nose. “Is that the way you talk to your boss?”
I pull my gaze from my computer and meet his small eyes. “You arenotmy boss.”
His lips curl. “Yet, Millie.Yetis the key word.”
“You ready to leave?” Micah calls, his loud voice breaking through the tension hovering between Kyle and me.
I turn to find Micah, almost a head taller than Kyle, looming over him. His eyes are firm, almost like he dares Kyle to say something else.
Kyle snorts like he finds all of this ridiculous, and Micah’s nostrils flare as he takes another step closer. The air is thick and heavy as we all freeze, waiting for what could happen next.
Without another word, Kyle lifts himself from my desk. He bumps Micah’s shoulder on his way past and leaves the room.
I’ve never seen this look on Micah’s face before. Gone is the gentle giant he normally is. This version is menacing and ready to fight a battle in my honor.
“Hey,” I whisper. “He’s not worth it.”
Micah’s eyes soften as they meet mine. “But you are.”
I inhale a shaky breath, those words calming my soul more than he’ll ever know. I press my lips together as I stand and thread my fingers through his. “Let’s go.”
He schools his features, relaxing his fingers around mine, and we escape the office for the rest of the day.
***
“Higher,” Eloise squeals as she swings up to the sky. When she drifts back my way, I put a little extra force into my push, and she inches higher.
I’m staying with the girls for a little while so Finn can have some alone time. I had to talk him into it, but he finally realized I wasn’t giving up. He eventually came down the stairs in a skin-tight cycling jersey and shorts that were completely impossible not to stare at. Then he pulled his bike down from its hooks in the garage and dusted it off for a ride.
The girls begged for homemade pizza again, so once Finn left, the three of us made it together. After a week of not seeing the girls or Finn outside of work, I’m loving this time with them. The tense moment with Kyle and Micah this afternoon is still burning in the back of my mind, but these sweet girls have a way of being a happy distraction to keep me from wallowing in the stress of my job.
“Can Pepper have the rest of my crust?” Avery asks from her spot in the grass next to us.
I brought Pepper over with me for the night, and she’s living her best life with Avery and Eloise spoiling the hell out of her.
“It’s probably not a great idea,” I tell her as I push Eloise again. “She got enough treats when we dropped all that cheese earlier.”
Avery nods and finishes it herself.
“You can stop pushing now,” Eloise groans. “I’m getting swing-sick. It feels like carsick.”
Grabbing the swing near her hips, I slow her to a stop. She tips out of it and drops onto the ground next to her sister.
“I totally get it. I get carsick sometimes.” I sit in the grass next to the girls and stretch my legs out straight. “Lying down might help,” I tell Eloise, patting my thigh.
She turns, lays her head on my leg, and pulls my arm across her. “Is this what homesick feels like too?”
I tilt my head to the side and watch her dark eyelashes lift as she looks at me. “Usually, homesick feels like you’re sad and miss something.”
Eloise fiddles with my fingers on her stomach. “Do you get homesick?”
“Definitely.”
