Callum barks. “No way, Zinni. We skate on ice, it’s actually the mostcoolestgame there is.”
Zinnia says, “What? I’ve never seen hockey before.”
“We’ll fix that,” Zephyr says. “Next home game, you’re coming.”
Zinnia’s eyes light up. “Really?”
“Really.”
Tiger is still watching me. A flash of last night crashes through my mind. The sounds she made while I kissed her flood my senses. I meet her eyes, thinking I can read her mind.
I look away first before I do something stupid like agree to this.
We eat breakfast together. All five of us crowded around a table that’s too small for this many people.
Zinnia talks nonstop.
Every time she says “Lily,” Tiger’s face softens.
And I watch closely.
Watch her laugh at Callum’s jokes. Watch her lean into Zephyr when he says something quiet I can’t hear, but not close enough to make Zinnia question it.
Watch her steal glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking.
I am. I’m always looking.
After breakfast, Zinnia discovers we have a PlayStation.
“Can I play?” she asks.
“What do you want to play?” Callum’s already grabbing controllers.
“I don’t know. What do you have?”
Zephyr lists off games. Racing. Fighting. Some cartoon thing I’ve never heard of.
Zinnia picks the racing one. Within five minutes, Callum and Zephyr are sitting on the floor with her, all three of them yelling at the screen.
Tiger’s standing in the hallway watching them. Her arms are crossed with a soft smile on her face.
I walk up behind her. Not touching. Just close enough to see what she’s seeing.
“She’s happy,” I say quietly.
“Yeah. She is. I don’t know how I can thank you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
The words are simple, but the way she says them isn’t.
I don’t know what to say, so we stand there for a moment. Her shoulder almost touching mine. Close enough to feel her warmth but not close enough to count as touching.
Then Zinnia shouts, “Jax! Come play! I bet I can beat you!”
“She definitely can’t,” Callum adds.
