Page 21 of Mountain Target

She shook her head, going back to her current conundrum.

What am I going to do?

Options were limited. It’s not like she could call the school and ask them to keep all parents out of the school for the foreseeable future just so Ren didn’t feel left out.

Ren was going to have to develop thicker skin. But maybe it was too early. Maybe she should have taken a bit more time off before going back to school.

She was nowhere closer to a solution when Ren came out of the room. Val had prepared a sandwich and an apple for her, both items currently sitting on the counter.

“Thank you,” Ren said. “I’ll eat it in my room, if that’s okay.”

“Sure,” Val said quickly, glad the girl was at least engaging her and trying not to show her relief at the fact that Ren was going to eat some of the food.

Ren was half-way to her room, balancing the tray in her hands, when she spoke again without turning around.

“You don’t have to come, Aunt Val.”

Even though Ren couldn’t see her, Val shook her head emphatically. “I want to come. I want to see your classroom.”

Ren gave a small shrug, then disappeared into her room. Moments later, the music was back. This time, Val even recognized the song—Loki.

She felt tears pushing against her eyelids. If she was honest, she was dreading it—dreading Ren’s inevitable pain, of course, but also her own role, having to hang out with all the other parents, people who’d been parenting for a decade plus, and who would take one look at her and immediately realize she had no idea what she was doing.

As a sob racked her chest, she took hold of the door and ran outside.

Beau

Beau rode his motorcycle past the house, heading to the garage. He stopped when he noticed the small figure sitting on the staircase with her face in her hands, only a few steps up from where the girl had been the first time he’d seen her.

But this wasn’t the girl.

He saw that immediately—recognized the bright red hair and those curves that’d haunted his dreams since they’d met.

“Valentina. Are you okay?” he asked, aware that he was interrupting a private moment.

You moron.

Look at her.

Of course she’s not okay.

Reason dictated he should wheel his bike right into the garage and get out of her way.

Then she looked up at him, and the sight of her reddened eyes and cheeks pulled at something inside his chest.

“Stupid question. You’re obviously not okay.”

Her lips curled into a small smile. “I’ll be okay. I just needed some air.”

As she said the word, she shivered, the tremor going up and down her body.

Beau was off his bike and by her side before he could talk himself out of it. He took off his leather jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders.

She looked up, a surprised expression on her face.

“Oh,” she murmured. “This is nice. I didn’t realize I was so cold.”

The way she burrowed further into the jacket—into his jacket—warmed him up inside. He’d never appreciated the coming of winter in quite the same way.