Ahri choked back a laugh. “I used to pull that on Kayn.”
“Did it work?” Rafe opened his door and jumped out.
“When we were in grade school, but after that he was too cool to care,” she said, helping Lessa with her belt. “Let me put on some sunscreen.”
His little sister held still, while Ahri sprayed. Rafe had to drag Nik over.
“How about I leave you and Lessa here, and I take this guy back to the house?” Rafe asked.
“No. I’ll be good.” Nik stood rigidly still so Ahri could spray him.
“You’ve had two strikes,” Rafe said. “One more, and I take you home.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you, Nik.” Ahri brushed aside the boy’s hair. “I’ve never been here, and I’m really looking forward to you showing me everything.” He took her hand and started towing her toward the line at the ticket booth.
Lessa slid her hand into Rafe’s, and they followed.
“Should we have brought any food?” Ahri asked, scanning the town street filled with gift shops and eateries.
“No, we’ll eat here.” He stepped beside her. “They have typical theme park food, nothing fancy.”
“It’s a beautiful location. What’s that for?” She pointed to the chairlift.
“Because the park’s set on a hill, it can be a nice little hike up to Miner’s Mountain,” Rafe said. “If it were just the two of us, we could walk it, but we’ll take the lift to spare their shorter legs.”
“My legs aren’t short,” Lessa said indignantly.
Rafe came to stand beside her, and he glanced between her legs and his. She giggled.
“Your legs are just the right height for your age,” Ahri said. “And Rafe’s are perfect for his.”
He shot her a curious glance, but she’d looked away. Did he imagine the darkening of her cheeks?
A train whistle broke the silence, and Nik squealed.
“I’m guessing you want to do that first?” Rafe asked.
“Yes. Yes.” The boy jumped up and down.
“Lessa wants to go to the petting zoo,” Ahri said.
“We’ll need to take the lift for that.” Rafe took Nik’s hand before the boy ran toward the train that was approaching the station. “Let’s ride this first.”
Lessa heaved out a sigh worthy of a martyr, but she took Ahri’s hand without complaining.
As they waited in line, Nik kept up a steady monologue about all his train knowledge and how Thomas the Train had been there once when his parents had brought him.
“I’ll getNik cleaned up if you’ll take care of Lessa,” Rafe said, as they carried the drowsy children into the house.
“Good thing we stuffed them there. I’m not sure they’ll last long enough to eat dinner.”
“Too right,” Rafe said.
He took the little boy into one of the guest bathrooms and gave him a quick shower. It was a sign of Nik’s fatigue that he didn’t complain. He wrapped his arms around Rafe when he carried him to his bedroom.
“Did you have fun today?” Rafe asked as he tucked the bedding over him.
