Page 153 of Unexpected Heroine

With my one good eye, I notice Stella pounding one fist into the palm of her other hand. But that hand is wrapped in an...

I do a one-eyed squint, embracing my new pirate side, closing the contact lens-less eye. “Is that an oven mitt?”

Two more times, she pops her fist into the oven mitt hand. “Yep. Couldn’t find a baseball glove. So oven mitt it is.” She looks at Freya. “Where’s the water? Did she throw it already?”

Oh, for Pete’s sake.

I flip her off but break out in a spell of cathartic laughter. I’ve missed her so freaking much.

Chuckling with us, Freya bends at the waist and scoops the water bottle off the floor. Well, damn. I guess I dropped it when I thought she was leaving me.

I take it from her and give her a congenial head nod. “Thank you kindly.”

“Sure thing,” she tosses back with a wink.

My laughter at Stella’s antics settles as I twist open the water bottle. No urge to toss it in sight. “So far, so good.”

With my peripheral vision, I notice Stella circling the bed, coming nearer. When she gets directly in front of me, she squats down like a baseball catcher and sticks the mitt out in front of her, making a target.

She pantomimes spitting on the ground like a ball player.

I’m still laughing when I put the bottle to my lips and take a sip.

Successfully.

The bottle stays in my hand the entire time. Gold star for me.

After enjoying a soothing gulp or ten, I put the cap back on the bottle and eye Stella down, feeling oddly triumphant. Much like a toddler who learned to drink out of her big girl cup.

“Well, that’s just disappointing,” Stella jokes, then tosses the oven mitt over her shoulder.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I tease, reveling in the levity. “Turns out I’m capable of holding my fluids after all.”

“I’ll cancel the bulk order of Depends,” she quips as she flops onto the bed. “And I guess we don’t need the waterproof sheets either.”

“I’ll take those if you’ve already ordered them,” Freya jokes, a snort-laugh escaping.

A huge guffaw bursts out of me, braying donkey-level. I know exactly what she’s talking about because I’ve seen her getting freaky at Bask plenty of times.

Stella’s gaze bounces between Freya and me, her mouth and eyes widening. I suspect she gets the joke since she’s a dirty girl too.

Freya tries to muffle her laughter, her cheeks growing redder. Finally, she blurts out, “Because I’m a squirter!”

Chapter 27

Avon calling

TOMER

Iring the doorbell and rock on my heels, weaving my hands behind my back. The small package remains firmly grasped between my fingers.

Taking a fourth look over my shoulder, I wait patiently for them to open the door. I know they’re home. I can track all their movements, for fuck’s sake. What’s taking so long?

I knock on the door, my toes tapping inside my shoe. A fifth look over my shoulder, both sides this time.

Blond hair catches my attention as the door opens. Although it isn’t my sugar bear, my heart squeezes all the same.

“Hey, Chuck. What’s popping?” Sammy grins wide, sweeping her open palm in front of her enormously pregnant belly to beckon me inside.

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