“That’s it,” she teases. “Really twirl it around.”
I try to comply, but she’s right. My hair is too long, and it just pulls it all into my face.
“Oh no!” She steps forward, reaching up to help me push it away again.
The gesture puts her body flush against mine, and I clear my throat. “You’ll have to wait until we win the Cup for that encore performance.”
“When does that happen?” She’s still smiling, still looking up at me with wide-eyed innocence, like she has no idea how she affects me.
“June, if we’re lucky.”
“But that’s months away!” She takes a step back, and I’m able to breathe again. “You’re not going to cut your hair until June?”
“If we make it that far.”
“But your hair will be down to your waist by then.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “My hair doesn’t grow that fast, and it’s superstition, like game day rituals. We can’t cut our hair until we win it.”
“Wow.” She slowly starts for the stairs, and I take a step toward my room.
“How do you remember all that stuff from when we were kids?” I look up at her, wondering if it means she’s thought about me the way I’ve thought about her through the years.
“I don’t know.” Her voice is quiet, and she shrugs. “I have a good memory?”
“I notice you didn’t mention ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and you as Dorothy.”
Her cute nose wrinkles, and she shakes her head. “Nobody cares about that old routine.”
“I care.” I thought she was the cutest blonde Dorothy I’d ever seen. “Your voice is really nice, and everybody laughed when Toto walked out as a large Siberian Husky. Mrs. Gulch would’ve had a hard time fitting Akela in her basket.”
“Yeah.” A warm light is in her eyes. “That was probably the best part of being in that pageant.”
We hesitate a moment longer, facing each other in silence. I consider her pretty hair, her pretty smile, her easy manner. For the first time in several weeks, this house feels like home again.
“I guess I’d better get to bed.” Her voice is quiet. “Have to meet Dr. Smithfield tomorrow with Haddy.”
“Let me know if you need anything.”
She nods, and I remain, watching her go. The hall upstairs goes dark, and I walk slowly to my room.
“Coffee…”Dove enters the kitchen with her eyes closed, holding her arms straight out in front of her like a cartoon zombie. “Coffeeeeee…”
A grin splits my cheeks, and I catch her forearm before she walks into me. “Hold up.” Then I reach into the narrow cabinet beside the sink, take down a mug, fill it with the hot brown liquid, and put it in her hand. “Coffee.”
She takes a sip and sets the mug down then curls her hands into creepy witch-claws. “Now braaaains…”
“Back, zombie!” I laugh more, grabbing her wrists and pulling them down behind her back. “Don’t make me double-tap you!”
Her eyes are closed, and her chin is lifted as her lips part with a laugh. I’m holding her wrists in both my hands, putting her body flush against mine.Again.
My body heats, and I release her quickly, stepping away, to the refrigerator to try and cool off. “Did you sleep okay last night?”
“Mmm-hm.” She nods, taking a longer drink of the hot beverage. “You’re not having coffee?”
I shake my head. “I don’t like hot drinks.”
Dove squeezes her eyes, running them up and down my body. “But you made this… really good coffee, by the way… and you don’t even drink it?”
