Page 15 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“Okay! Thanks!” He scooted off again, hollering, “Dusty! I’m getting newStar Warsbooks!”

Hannah winced at her cousin, who laughed and told her not to worry about it, then turned her attention to Louis. “I’d heard a dirty rumor you’d moved back to town.”

“Yeah, I did. What’s this side hustle? You quitting the team?”

“Nope.”

“Good.”

“I heard you’re a pilot now?” Athena said. “Any chance you could fly me to work sometimes? I hate mornings.”

Louis laughed. “I’m pretty sure half the team is moving out here. Seems like the place to be. But yeah, I might be able to help you with the commute now and again.”

Hannah was watching him, arms crossed, her tea abandoned. She looked…jealous? No, that couldn’t be. Miffed, maybe.

“He doesn’t fight with starfighters,” Thomas interjected, sliding in from the other room. “He stays in this galaxy.”

“Thanks!” Athena said. “I was wondering about that.”

The kid nodded and dashed out again. He was a ball of energy and Louis had no idea how Hannah kept up with him.

“What have you ladies been up to?” he asked.

Hannah had lifted her cup to her lips, reminding him how entirely kissable they looked. “Cassandra’s selling Christmas trees if you need one.”

“I do, actually. Well, no. I don’t actually decorate. But if I did I’d need a tree.”

“Scrooge,” Hannah muttered.

“If I’m Scrooge, then you’re Will Ferrell in the movieElf.”

“Hardly.”

“Do you have kids?” Cassandra asked. “Hannah works in the day care down the street, Colts and Fillies. It’s the best.”

Louis glanced at Hannah, who was watching him, jaw clenched. She thought he was going to judge her for the fact that her job didn’t pay well and likely had no benefits, he knew.

So much wasted potential.

But there was no way he’d say so. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a fight.

“Full-time?” he asked.

“Half.”

“Do the boys go there?”

“They’re in school.”

“You’re going to ask for full-time, though, right?” Cassandra pressed.

“Edith had to make additional cuts.” Hannah sounded glum, even though she’d pasted that stupid I’m-happy-don’t-worry-about-me smile on her face. “It’s fine, though. Tonya really needed the extra hours this month. She doesn’t get much in the way of child support, and Calvin takes good care of us.”

Her glance darted Louis’s way, but he kept his mouth shut.

“Those boys are going to grow up one day, then where will you be financially?” Cassandra muttered in warning, before taking another sip of her coffee.

Louis liked this gal. No wonder his goalie was so smitten with her.

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