Page 54 of Rescued Heart

But it was Scarlette who set her fist on her hip. “You gonna let him get away with that?”

Scout took Eddie’s phone. “On your mark, get set, g?—”

Bianca dashed up the steps.

Eddie pulled her back.

“Hey!” Bianca pushed on his chest, but instead of going down, they both managed to make it to the top of the blow-up slide while only slipping twice.

Bianca laughed and panted until her attention locked on something below. “Oh.” She scooted back. “It’s higher than I thought it would be.”

She was scared of heights? “I thought I read that you do your own stunts.”

He refrained from rolling his eyes. Now she’d know he’d researched her a little after the night of the masquerade. And after Zack had mentioned her interview about Christianity. But she only stared at the ground.

She curled her knees up toward her chest. “Sometimes I do. But it doesn’t mean I don’t freak out right before those high stunts. I know the Lord is always with me, but that doesn’t mean I won’t ever get hurt.”

Wasn’t that the truth. Eddie laced his fingers around hers. “Come on. Together. One, two, three.”

Bianca didn’t move but released her grip. “You go ahead.”

Eddie scooted over closer to her. “And hear how you let me win? Never.”

He got a side smile out of her then. He offered his hand, and she put hers into his. “I won’t let you fall.”

She laughed then. “I’m so silly. It’s a slide and an irrational fear.”

Eddie shrugged. “But God’s here for it. So am I.”

Instead of smiling brighter, her face went slack. “Thanks, Eddie, for being such a good guy.”

A good guy.That should’ve been a compliment. Except he couldn’t help but hear one of his old foster brother’s words when they were younger:Good guys have no fun. No life.

That comment had come right before Eddie had found his teen self behind bars.

Bianca smiled over at him. But it looked…fake. Shouldn’t be surprising. She was an actress. “Okay. I’m ready.”

An actress who acted out their relationship for not only the kids but also the world.

“One, two, three.” Bianca shoved off, and Eddie trailed behind.

“Coach B won!”

“I’m next.”

“No, I am.”

Both Scout and Tank raced up the steps and tumbled down the slide together. Tank landed on top of Scout before leaping off the slide. But Scout didn’t get up. He lay there, holding his hand.

“Ah, Coach.” Will frowned. “I think Scout’s hurt.”

Tank shook his head. “He’s faking because I beat him.”

Scarlette raced over and pried her brother’s hand off the top of his other one. She gasped. “His pinkie’s bent weird.”

Eddie’s knee landed in the grass in front of Scout, and he inspected the pinkie. It was as he’d feared. “I’m so stupid.”

Bianca squatted beside Scout. “Accidents happen.”

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