“Mama!” Paisley cried, a happy smile on her face, a chicken wing in her hand and her mouth full of food. Someone had propped the phone up in front of her. She was sitting in a booster seat at a restaurant, wearing new clothes. She looked happy and slightly sunburnt.
“Hey,vi.My phone broke. Call me on Auntie Mina’s phone, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes!” Paisley talked with her hands, moving the chicken wing like it was a doll jumping around while she talked. “We saw turtles, we went to the playground, andVihveewent down the slide, we went to the park inside the big building and rode the teacup ride and uh we did circles on the rocks and oh.. andVihveebought me four books and two princess dollies and I got to ride a pony at the zoo.”
“That sounds very fun,” Sage said, smiling. Paisley was being spoiled. That was okay… for a bit. Paisley chewed on the chicken wing and someone Sage couldn’t see handed Paisley a napkin.
The phone jerked and the image changed, scanning the restaurant, then landing on Sage’s mother, Paige. Just before theview had stopped, Sage had seen Rosenvelt sitting right next to Paige, their chairs touching, and their hands also touching.
“Deardeae,” Sage muttered, wondering how long this had been going on, and just how far it had gone.
“I need my phone, dear,” Paige said. “Paisley will call you tomorrow.”
Paige hung up.
Sage stared at the phone, shaking her head. Her mother was rude as hell toher, but always sweet with Paisley, otherwise Sage wouldn’t deal with her at all.
She left the bathroom, through the small living room, and through an archway into the kitchen and dining area. The wooden table was situated in front of three bay windows, where Canyon and Timber were already sitting with their food. Her food was spread out in front of an empty seat. Sage sat down, her mouth watering.
Canyon and Timber both had gotten the Big Bad Burger, which was a half-pound of meat topped with cheese and wrapped in bacon, then grilled and served on a bed of wilted greens. Sage had gotten the Little Mouse Meal, which was a burger in the shape of a mouse, topped with cheese and grilled onions, and served with fries.
Timber was shoving his food in his face and didn’t seem to notice Sage had come back, but Canyon smiled at her. He gathered up his untouched Big Bad Burger, offered it to her, and said, “First bite dibs.”
Timber stopped eating and stared at Canyon. “Whoa.” He looked at Sage. “That’s serious.”
She grinned. “I accept.” She bit into the perfect crust and got a mouthful of delicious cheesy bacon.Yum.Sage chewed crispy bacon and motioned at her Little Mouse Meal, with a questioning look on her face.
“Yeah, lemme try it,” Canyon said.
Sage held up the burger and let him bite it.
He nodded. “Pretty good—can’t compete with the Big Bad Burger, though.”
“Nothing can,” Timber said.
Sage took the next bite of her food and finished it quickly. The three of them were quiet, focused on their food. Too soon, Sage finished all of hers, down to her last fry. Canyon slid her a new bag of fries.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling at him.
He winked at her. “Any time.”
Silence spun out while Canyon and Timber finished eating. It was comfortable, making Sage feel like she belonged with these two again. It made her want to come clean.
“I’m a spy,” she blurted out, then dropped her eyes. “Or I was anyway, till I lost my job.”
“Cool,” Timber said.
“No, you don’t understand. I’ve been spying on you, on thewolven. That’s why I worked at Mugshots. I was placed there by… by someone, and I won’t say who, so don’t ask.”
“That’s hot,” Canyon said.
“You don’t care?”
He shook his head. “Nah. Everyone’s got a past.”
