Page 78 of Ice Princess

TWENTY-FOUR

GUNNER

I followRebel down the steps of the trailer. The bright, morning sunshine glints against a caravan of parked cars. To the side, in a grassy lot across from the mobile homes, is a bright blue food truck.

The shutter above the window is rolled all the way to the top. Two chefs wearing white hats and clear, plastic face masks wield a spatula expertly.

“Kinsey!” Theilan waves. “I want a food truck for my birthday this year!”

“It really is an entire food truck…” Rebel shakes her head. “How much did it cost?”

I keep walking.

She scrambles to keep up with me and hisses, “Gunner.”

Thankfully, Watson grabs our attention by yelling loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear, “I get first dibs!”

Theilan takes off at a breakneck speed. “Oh no, you don’t!”

He and Watson start a stampede as everyone in the team hustles to the window of the food truck.

Theilan and Watson get there first, placing their orders ahead of everyone else.

By this time, the neighbors are poking their heads out of the windows and spectators are gathering on the street to watch the activity.

I push past the gathering crowd to get to the line of vehicles.

Max is on the phone a couple paces away.

Renthrow is climbing out of a pickup with Gordie in his arms. I jog toward them, surprised to see Gordie on site.

“Uncle Gunner!” Gordie fixes her tiny hands into finger-guns and makes the cutest sound effects. “Pew-pew.”

I smile and return the gesture. “Pew-pew.”

She spreads her arms wide, and I take her from her father, balancing her on my hip. Gordie grabs my face and gives my cheek a kiss. “When are we playing video games again?”

“I’ve been a little busy.” I hoist her higher on my hip and promise, “But I’ll swing by as soon as things calm down.”

Gordie’s sparkling brown eyes move past me and fasten on the woman at my side. “Hi, Rebel.”

“Hi, Gordie.”

“You’re so pretty.”

Agreed.

I take the opportunity to run my eyes over her. Rebel’s hair falls around her shoulders in thick waves. She’s wearing a simple pink tank top and a pair of knee-length, cream pants. Even in casual loungewear and barefaced, she looks effortlessly stunning.

“Likereally, reallypretty,” Gordie adds.

From the mouth of babes.

“Thank you.” Rebel grins and draws closer to Gordie, but that, effectively, brings her closer to me too. Her arm brushes mine as she rubs Gordie’s back affectionately. The scent ofRebel’s flowery, citrus perfume winds around me like a magic spell.

We’d been this close a second ago, but Rebel had seemed to be on edge. With her focus on Gordie now, she’s a lot more relaxed.

“Do you want to date my dad?” Gordie suddenly offers. “He’s single.”

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