Page 134 of Shadows of You

I worried the inside of my cheek as I stared at the title they’d given it.Who’s Lying Now?

“Lizard!” Cady shouted, breaking into my thoughts. “But I heard he’s gonna bring a dragon.”

My brows lifted at that. “A dragon?”

Cady and Charlie had been beyond excited for The Bug Guy to visit their classroom, but dragons seemed extreme.

Roan chuckled. “I bet he has a bearded dragon.”

I turned to glance at him. “That sounds dangerous.”

“No, they actually make great pets,” Roan informed me.

“Maybe we’ll get one of those next, Mama. I want a dragon.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose where a headache was building. “I think we’ve got a full house right now, Katydid.”

“We’ll see,” she singsonged.

Roan just laughed harder.

“Stop it,” I whisper-hissed.

He pulled to a stop in the pickup line and bent to kiss me. “You’d never say no to an animal in need.”

Cady giggled. “Don’t do that in front of Charlie. He doesn’t like kissing.”

Roan grunted. “It’s a good thing. If that changes, you let me know.”

“Okay, Mr. Grizz,” Cady said, unbuckling her straps.

I jumped out of the truck and helped her down, then bent to give her a quick squeeze. “Love you. Have the best day.”

She smacked a kiss on my cheek. “You, too, Mama!”

Then she was gone, running for the doors of the school.

I watched her go for a moment before turning back to the truck. How long did we have before I had to tell her the truth about her father? How long until she would be aware of all the articles and podcasts andDatelinespecials?

I opened the door and climbed inside. Roan watched me as I buckled my seat belt and then pulled away from the curb, not saying a word. But instead of heading straight to The Brew, he pulled to the side of the street in front of a gallery that hadn’t yet opened.

“What’s wrong?”

I stared at my hands in my lap. “New podcast episode.”

Roan cursed. He unbuckled my belt and pulled me closer to him. “You don’t have to pay any attention to that noise.”

“Cady will hear it all one day. That’s what I hate the most.”

He sighed. “We’ll be there to help her through it when the time comes.”

My heart rate ratcheted up.We. God, I wanted that. Nothing felt like too much with Roan by my side. Somehow, his gruffness soothed the worst of any situation.

“Are you going to listen to it?” he asked softly.

“Probably,” I admitted. It was like a car wreck I couldn’t turn away from. One I needed to shield Cady from however I could.

Roan plucked the phone from my lap. “Then we listen together.”

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