Page 91 of The Spring in My Heart

“Must be nice.”

“Her job is the coolest,” my daughter sighs.

“I thought my job was the coolest.”

She shakes her head. “No, you just build the coolest things.”

“No lies detected,” says Lux. “He’s good with his hands…at building things.”

She looks away, and my chest puffs.

“Oh, Papi is the best contractor. He has a 4.5-star rating on Amy’s List. Some lady was mad and gave him a one-star review, even though her project was flawless.”

That’s what I get for getting involved with a client. It was one time, but never again.

“I’ll have to go in and give him five stars so we can make that rating go higher,” Lux says over her shoulder.

Except, this time. Lux is the exception to my rule.

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

The girls giggle, and we turn to look at them, but they’re in their own world, whispering.

We get suited up and head toward the game room entrance. The tall gangly kid with the laser guns doesn’t know where to look. He can’t even look Lux in the eyes, but his eyes do a double-take on Ayla and then Bron. He’s mumbling his words and not looking any of them in the face, and that’s for the best, because I would shove that laser gun up his skinny ass.

The girls are too young, and Lux is mine…

Jesus, that’s how I think about her now?

I don’t get time to muse on that, because the doors open, and he mumbles good luck to the girls but not me.

The girls take off running, I’m sure trying to find a good place to get us.

It’s dark inside, except for the neon lights marking the path.

I spot the corner, and the plan immediately comes together quickly. Lux is super serious with her laser gun ready.

“You’ve done this before.”

She scoffs. “Chase is my brother. My whole life has been a manhunt. We’ve even played in the woods at night. That psycho used to delight in scaring the bejesus out of me.”

We duck and make it to the corner, and I turn around, trapping her in, swelling her gasp of surprise with my lips on hers. “You look gorgeous, as always. I can’t believe I held out for this long.”

“I can’t wait until you can kiss me in public.”

“Soon.”

She sighs into my mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that. There’s no pressure?—”

Footsteps grow closer, and I jump back. She shoves me aside and shoots her laser at the kid before he can get me.

“You’re welcome,” she says and starts down the maze with me following behind.

“Papi.” I turn as I do every time I hear my baby’s voice and get tagged in the chest.

She and Bron run away, giggling. “Later.”

I don’t see Lux for the rest of the game as I get kicked out. The pimply kid doesn’t even thank me as I return the equipment.

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