Page 150 of Axe Marks the Spot

“Is it okay if I come live with you both?”

Lindsey’s grip on my waist tightens. I know her answer, and I’m glad she doesn’t look mad that I asked Kas now instead of later tonight. But this felt like the perfect time, and by the warm upturn of her lips, I know she agrees.

“Don’t you live with us already anyway? I saw Mom folding your underwear the other night.” She scrunches up her nose.

Lindsey chokes out a laugh and looks around. Thankfully, there’s music playing, and nobody is paying attention to us.

“Kas! You can’t say things like that in public.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m just saying. You don’t keep underwear at someone’s house unless you live there.”

“The kid has a point,” I add.

Lindsey gently pinches my side, and I cock my eyebrow at her. She’ll pay for that later.

She flushes before turning her attention back to Kas. “That may be true in some cases, but he isn’t at our home full-time. If he moves in, it will be permanent.”

My heart squeezes at her promise, and I kiss the side of Lindsey’s head. Kas studies us, looking back and forth between me and her mom. Eventually, she zeros in on me with her hands on her hips, features stern. It makes me think of a cop about to interrogate someone.

“You like my mom, right?”

The conversation we had this past summer comes to mind. It’s a conversation I’ve never forgotten, because Kas is right—if you like someone, you should keep telling them until they’re sick of hearing it.

“I do, Kas. I like your mom. I like your mom a lot.”

“Do you more than like her?”

My gaze drops to Lindsey, her eyes shining with love. “Yeah, I more than like her.”

Lindsey blushes, because she already knew the answer to that. Because I don’t tell her I like her every day; I tell her I love her.

“And you like Logger Dane, Mom?”

“Yeah, honey. I more than like him.”

Kas continues to scrutinize us. She does that for a moment longer before she nods in a sharp motion. “Okay, then I’ll allow it. You can move in. But you’d better not make me eat your weird omelets.”

My chest shakes with laughter, and I pull Kas in by the shoulders for a half hug. “I won’t.”

Kas hugs me back before hugging her mom. She pulls back and puts her hands on her hips. “So can I throw a real axe now, Logger Dad?”

I’ll admit, the combination of her puppy-dog eyes with her calling me her own version of dad nearly gets me, but there’s no way I’m saying yes. “Like your mom said, not until you’re ten.”

She groans. “No fair!”

Lindsey sighs, and I kiss her head, enjoying the way we already feel like a family and have for a while now. I’ve even started attending family dinners alongside them with Fox, Nathan, and Morgan at least once a month. It’s taken me some getting used to, being around people all the time, but like I told Lindsey, I find my peace with her. And wherever she and Kas are, I’m happy. It’s also nice that I like Fox, Nathan, and Morgan.

On top of that, I’m learning to be more social with people in town. That, I don’t like as much, but I’m getting used to it.

“It may not be fair,” I tell Kas, “but your mom is right. We don’t want you to chop something off or poke your eye out.”

“Can’t I poke my eye out with a rubber axe, too, if it hits my face just right?”

Lindsey snorts as I purse my lips. Leave it to me to find a family that loves to talk back. Nathan is the same way. I can’t deny that I like it, though, especially when Lindsey does it when we’re alone.

“Maybe, but only if you’re being reckless. Which I know you won’t be, since you want to keep throwing axes and practicing for the tournament next month.”

She groans, but before she can say anything back, Moira runs over. “Kas!” The brown-haired girl stops in front of her and grabs her hand. “Max dared Levi to beat his record for how many marshmallows he can fit in his mouth! You have to come see.”