Page 95 of Axe Marks the Spot

She rolls her eyes then says, “Do you like them?”

“Like who?”

“The person it’s complicated with.”

“I do,” I answer easily, wondering how this turned into a conversation about me.

“If you like them, you should tell them.” Kas looks out at Tyler, and my heart breaks a little for her.

“That’s sound advice,” I say.

“My uncles and aunt tell each other all the time how much they like each other. It’s annoying, but I think that’s why they stay together.”

My brow furrows at her comment and the turn in conversation. “Relationships take work. Liking each other is only part of it.”

She shrugs. “I think if my mom and dad said they liked each other more, my dad wouldn’t have started seeing someone else.”

Well, this went into territory I was not prepared for. It also explains a lot about Lindsey’s past. I don’t know if Kas knows she just told me that her dad cheated on her mom, but that’s the clear implication.

“That steps into very complicated territory, kid. I bet it wasn’t that simple.”

She shrugs. “That’s what Mom says about it, too.”

“She’s a smart woman; you should listen to her.”

“That’s also what my Uncle Nate tells me,” she huffs.

“Sounds like you have a lot of smart people around you.”

“I guess so.”

I gently bump her on the shoulder with the back of my hand. She looks at me, and I see the sadness and confusion in her eyes. “Take it from me, Chaos Kas.” Her smile comes back at the nickname, and I continue. “You’re young. You’re going to like lots of people, and some might like you back, and some might not. But that doesn’t determine how likable you are. Remember that.”

Her eight-year-old brain works around what I said, and I don’t know if she gets it completely or not, but I meant what I said.

“Is this one of those self-esteem speeches teachers love to give us?”

I huff a laugh. “I don’t know, is it?”

She shrugs. “My teacher likes to make us these mantras about being enough and brave and stuff.”

“Sounds like a smart teacher.”

She rolls her eyes. “You like calling people smart.”

“I call it like I see it. Now, why don’t you throw an axe or two? You’ve still got ten minutes. Someone who likes you a lot is waving you over.”

Kas looks to where I’m pointing and sees Moira smiling and waving her friend over. I expect her to say that’s not the same or make an excuse not to, but she smiles and nods at me, telling Moira one minute by holding up a finger.

Kas faces me, and before I know what’s happening, little arms are around my waist, and I’m being hugged. My body stiffens in surprise, but then I relax.

Kas pulls back and looks up at me. “Thanks, Logger Dane.”

I don’t have time to react before she’s off again, making her way to Moira. She ignores Tyler and Sara and picks up an axe. She says something to Moira that makes them both giggle, then a determined look appears on her face.

She squares up with the target and stands in the form I showed them. A second later, she lets the axe fly, and it hits the center of the target with ease. She and Moira jump up and down in celebration, and I clench my jaw to keep from laughing.

When she glances back at Tyler, I know with one hundred percent certainty she pretended that was his face. I don’t know if that’s healthy or not, but I can’t deny the kid has talent. I’d also much rather her pretend the target is his face than throw the rubber axe at his real one.