Harper nodded solemnly. “Daddy makes really good ones.”
“I might hold you to that,” I said, feeling the weight of the words after they left my mouth.
“Promise?” she asked.
“Promise.”
Logan’s gaze lingered then. Measured. Searching. Guarded.
“Thanks,” he said softly. “Seriously.”
The screen went dark.
I sat there longer than necessary, the city humming outside my window, the echo of his voice settling somewhere I didn’t want it to.
A few hours later, my phone buzzed.
Logan (Grumpy Marine):Harper says
milkshakes are non-negotiable.
I smiled, but the smile didn’t feel easy.
Because beneath the warmth, beneath the humor, I could feel the line he was holding. The careful way he allowed connection without letting it take root.
The ache of that line had me more flustered than the ache of pain curling low in my stomach.
And I didn’t know what to do with that.
Chapter 6
Logan
By the time Friday rolled around, the milkshake plan had evolved from a simple thank you to a full-blown operation.
Harper had drawn a sign that saidMILKSHAKE PARTY!!!in pink marker, complete with stick figures of me, her, and Dani. Apparently, I had the biggest muscles and Dani had sparkles floating around her neon yellow hair.
Our kitchen looked like an ice cream grocery aisle had exploded. There were three different kinds of ice cream, two types of whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, and a carton of milk that Harper insisted had to be “theshake-iestmilk.” Whatever that meant.
“Okay, Captain,” I said, surveying the mess. “What’s the game plan here?”
She perched on a stool, legs swinging, holding a notepad like she was running the operation.
Harper tapped the notepad twice, leaning forward with the seriousness of a general.
“Daddy, you’re in charge of the blender,” she declared, allowing a beat of silence for emphasis. “I’m the flavor decider.” After another thoughtful pause, she added with dramaticflair, “And Dani’s the guest of honor.” Her gaze narrowed conspiratorially. “So, she gets the first taste.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Guest of honor, huh?”
Harper nodded seriously. “She saved my hair.”
I hesitated, reaching for the ice cream scoop. “You really like her, huh?”
Harper beamed. “She’s funny. And she smells nice. She’s like Aunt Cami, but with lawyer powers.”
“Lawyer powers?”
“Yeah.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice as if it were a secret. “She uses big words, but not in a boring way.”
