Page 67 of Sweet Heart for the Bear

Then, Dina moves first, disappearing into the kitchen.

She’s back seconds later with a glass of water and a small tote bag.

Her eyes flick to mine, then to Horace, then back to me again.

Oh no.

I know that look.

That is the “I’m about to make up an excuse to leave you two alone” look.

Dina, don’t you dare—I almost say it. Then I realize she has a point. I need to talk to him alone.

“Um, here,” she says, shoving the bag and glass at me like she’s handing off a live grenade. “We brought you some clean clothes. But no rush on when you’re coming home.”

Then, with zero subtlety, she glances at the nearest window and goes, “Wow, look at that. It’s getting late!”

It’s eleven-thirty in the morning.

MJ tilts her head, frowning. “What?”

Dina grabs her sleeve, yanking her up.

“Late for the pizzeria.”

“But the manager we hired is there?” MJ says it like it’s a question.

“Yeah. But you know we got that delivery coming. MJ and I are gonna head downstairs.”

MJ blinks clearly confused. “We do?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” Dina nods enthusiastically, then turns to Doug. “You too, um, Doug. We have something to show you.”

Doug squints at her. “We do?” he mimics MJ.

Dina flicks her head to the side—the universal sibling look for “play along, you idiot.”

But Doug?

Doug is clearly slow on the uptake.

He just stares at her, his battered face blank, like he’s trying to process a different language.

Dina exhales sharply. Then, through gritted teeth, she enunciates, “Come. To. The. Pizzeria. We. Will. Feed. You. Now.”

Doug brightens immediately.

“Oh, free pizza? Sure, I can do that.”

I bite my lip, barely containing my smile.

Dina is ridiculous.

But I appreciate it.

I need to talk to Horace.

And I’d rather do it without an audience.

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