Page 33 of Delayed Penalty

But where’s Flora? I check my watch. It’s only five PM. It’s too early for her to be in bed already.

“What are you?—”

She holds her finger to her lips, silencing me, then points to her lap.

I pad farther into the room and peer over the couch. Flora is sound asleep on Quinn’s legs. She’s wearing a crown that looks a little familiar, and she’s snoring softly. There’s a book lying over her chest like she fell asleep reading.

And fuck, it’s adorable.

I smile down at her. “How long…”

“Only about thirty minutes. She was reading outloud to me, then the next thing I knew, she was out. We had a busy day, so I’m not surprised.”

I lift my brows. “You did?”

Quinn nods, her eyes shining with excitement. “We played tag in the backyard, then hide-and-seek—which I won, thank you very much. We drew pictures, made sandwiches for lunch, built a fort in her room, and then decided to build a fort out here, too, because what living room isn’t better with a fort? She wanted to read more of her book, so I suggested she read out loud to me to get some speaking practice in.” She looks down at the sleeping girl. “Worked a little too well, maybe.”

I have no words. I had an image in my head of what their day would look like, and that certainly wasn’t it. I thought maybe they’d talk a little, but I figured Quinn would mainly play on her phone while Flora read or played quietly in her room. But it doesn’t seem like that happened at all.

“My legs are completely numb,” Quinn whispers, still peering down at the worn-out kid.

“Here, I got her.”

I round the couch, carefully cradling Flora in my arms. She stirs a little, and slowly, her blue eyes pop open. She blinks once. Twice.

“Uncle Adam?” she asks softly.

“Yes, Flora?”

“I’m hungry.”

I laugh. “I can fix that.”

“Oh, um, about that…” Quinn winces. “Are you aware you have almostnothingin your fridge or cabinets? I used the last of the lunchmeat for Flora’s sandwich and gave her some chips I had in my bagandthe last of my butterscotch candies, which you now owe me a bag of, by the way.”

Fuck. I knew I needed to do some shopping, but I didn’t realize I needed to do it that badly. I’m glad Quinn could find something for Flora’s lunch, but does that mean she didn’t eat?

“We’re going to dinner, then the store. Get your shoes on.” I look down at Flora. “Would you like me to carry you to your chariot, Princess Flora?”

My niece giggles as I carry her to the door. “Yes.”

“Wait!” Quinn calls after us, tripping over the many blankets—where the hell did she find all those?—trying to catch up. “Dinner? I?—”

“Have been here all day and need to eat. Shoes. Let’s go.”

Her eyes narrow to slits, her lips turning down, and I know she’s a second away from arguing about this. I really don’t want to hear it.

“Hayes, you arenottaking me to dinner.”

As if on cue, her stomach growls—loudly. Even Flora’s brows rise at the noise.

“Your body says otherwise. Now, are you going tostand here and argue with me, or are you going to get in the car and go to dinner with us? I bet Flora would love to spend more time with you, right, kid?”

She nods eagerly in my arms. I shouldn’t be leveraging her against Quinn, but she shouldn’t be so damn stubborn, either. I should have also made sure there was enough food in the house today, but that was then, this is now, and I’m trying to fix that fuckup, okay?

Quinn smiles softly, and I know it’s a smile for Flora and Flora alone. “All right. I’ll come. But I’m getting fries, and you’re not allowed to have any.”

I squeeze my brows together. “O…kay?”

---