Page 138 of Ice Princess

I search the crowd until I find Delia hiding behind a nearby column.

“Delia?” Confusion laces my tone.

Delia adjusts her motorcycle jacket and approaches us with a strong, confident stride. If not for the sheepish tilt of her chin, I wouldn’t believe she’d been hiding.

“What happened? Why were you all the way over there?” April asks.

“I… had to answer a phone call.”

I study her keenly. Something about her answer doesn’t ring true, but May starts chatting and I let the matter go.

“Oh, I can’twaituntil you two get married and start having kids,” May chirps, dreamily clasping her hands and pressing them under her cheek. “I want to be an auntsobadly.”

“Hold your horses, squirt.I’mnot in a rush for marriage or a baby,” April says.

“Me either.” I agree.

“But don’t you want your own adorable, little Phillip?” May makes a squishy-squishy gesture with her fingers. “Did you see those chunky cheeks?”

“Right now, the garage is my Phillip,” April says.

I point at May, “That means you’re already a proud aunt. Congratulations.”

April laughs.

May sticks out her tongue in disgust. “You guys are no fun. Hey, Delia?”

“Hm?” The mechanic turns around, her black bob swishing with the movement.

“Do you like kids?”

“Kids?” She looks off to the side. “Er…”

May’s smile drops. “I guess you don’t.”

“It’s not that I hate kids,” Delia says, stepping off the escalator. “But they’re so small and fragile. They make me nervous.”

“That’s fair,” May says. “I once babysat for the Elmers and their one-year-old pushed her finger into an electric socket the moment I looked away. I almost had a heart attack.”

Delia forces a smile, looking uncomfortable.

I watch her, trying to figure her out. I’m getting very curious about our new hire. What did she do before this? What drove her to a town as small as Lucky Falls? What exactly is she running from?

“I’ll see you guys later,” Delia says, hurrying away from us in the parking lot as if we’ve got a contagious disease.

“Did I say something offensive?” May wonders. “I hope she doesn’t think I’m judging her over not liking kids. I really meant it when I said I understood.”

April rubs her sister’s shoulder, ever the voice of reason. “It’s okay, May. Delia will open up when she’s ready. But what Ireallywant to know…” My best friend turns her eyes on me, “is what happened between Rebel and Gunner after they left the garage this morning.”

“Ooh, yes! I want all the juicy details! How did he ask you out?”

I shake my head. “I’ll tell you next time. I need to head home too.”

“Why?” April asks.

“My boyfriend has an early practice and he won’t sleep until he hears I got home safely.”

“Blegh.” May pretends to throw up.

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