Page 45 of Third Time Lucky

“Hi, Joey.” Her round cheeks are covered in flour, her light-brown hair tangled—and also liberally sprinkled—and framing familiar green eyes that are bright with impatient excitement. She’s wearing a purple sweatshirt with the Polynesian demigod and chicken from Moana. “You’re late.”

“What is he late for?” Tani asks.

Rue’s eyes go humorously wide and she looks down at my phone, tilting her head until she can get a good look at my best friend’s face.

“There’s a princess in your phone,” she whispers as if I might not be aware of it.

“Is that Rue?” I hear the smile in Tani’s voice. “The special neighbor I’ve been hearing so much about?”

I adjust my screen so they can get a better look at each other.

“I am Rue. Who told you?”

“I did, but how did you know she was a princess?” I ask in mock consternation. “I only found out when I discovered her secret tiara collection.”

We were sixteen. I can only imagine how many she has now. Maybe we’re both hoarders. It would make me feel better if it were true.

Rue steps over the threshold with her floury hands raised, only pausing when Elliot says, “You didn’t wash your hands, Rutabaga.”

“Sorry.” She whips her hands behind her back. “You have a tiara?”

“One for every day of the week.”

Rue looks up long enough to gift me with a glowing smile before I lose her to Tani’s allure. Kids are as drawn to her as they are to me, though for very different reasons. Most of the time they see me as an equal. Nonthreatening and amusing and someone they can trust. But one look at Tani and most get that same dazed expression Rue is wearing. When they see her heavy-lidded eyes, full lips and golden-brown skin—not to mention all the colorful pillows she currently has propped up behind her—they usually go directly to princess.

“My name is Tanisha. Can you tell me what our friend Joey is late for?”

Rue nods rapidly. “Pancakes. Daddy said I could make them, so I did. He flips, but I get to mix them. Do you want some? They’re so good I can eat five cajillion.”

I whistle through my teeth, thoroughly enjoying the conversation. “That’s a lot of pancakes.”

“I would love that,” Tani says. “But I’d have to get on an airplane and by the time I showed up, breakfast would be over.”

Rue looks crestfallen, and I feel her pain.

“She’s coming to visit soon,” I promise. “Maybe you can make pancakes again when she does, so she won’t miss out?”

“Tomorrow?” Rue perks up and I can practically hear Tanisha melting through the phone.

“Not tomorrow, cutie, but very soon. Especially now that I know you’re there. I’ll tell you a secret. Joey can’t cook at all.”

Rue squints up at me as if to say What’s wrong with you?

“It’s true.” I shrug, accepting the judgment. “I’m only good at eating.”

This seems to remind her that she’s in the middle of making breakfast, because she runs down the hall before turning around and racing back to the phone. “See you very soon! Joey, come eat pancakes!”

And then she’s gone. Instead of looking up at the man beside me, I flip the phone to stare pointedly at Tani. He’s here, I can’t talk about it now, and I’m feeling Elliot’s stare to my bones.

Our bond kicks in and she gets the message.

“Fine. I’m going,” she says into the silence. “But let your neighbor know that I know what he just did there. And that we are not amused.”

I’m a little amused at the royal we. “I think he heard you, princess,” I tell her wryly. “I’ll call you later.”

“And no skipping tonight’s date. I want details.”

I disconnect the call, her last command hovering in the air.

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