Page 121 of Chasing Shelter

ELLIE

“I thinkmy heart is exploding with the cuteness,” Sutton said as she took in all the kids with their adorable and over-the-top hair creations.

“Man, my new school doesn’t have wacky hair day,” Luca complained, looking up at his mom.

Cope clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Next year, Speedy. We’re back here and you can dominate the hair game.”

Luca seemed appeased by that, turning a smile to Cope. “I do get to see a lot of hockey games in Seattle, though. That might make it cooler.”

Sutton laughed. “Gee, wacky hair or hockey games? I wonder which one wins?”

“Hockey, Mom. Always hockey.”

“I keep wondering how they’re going to get some of this stuff out of their hair,” Shep muttered. “I’m pretty sure that one kid with the purple spikes used glue.”

My gaze caught on the older boy Shep indicated, and I winced. “That looks painful.”

Fallon leaned in closer so she could see around some kids to get a better look. Then she started laughing. “That is a serious punk phase. And it has nothing on the cuteness you created for Keels.”

The first- and second-grade classes were lining up right in front of us, and they looked adorable. But Keely was certainly one of the best with her unicorn ‘do. There were some other contenders, though. A quiet little girl with dark hair rocked a Pippi Longstocking replica, her hair sticking straight out in two braids. A boy in their group had sprayed his hair green and had frogs pinned to it. And then there was the brunette whose hair had been made into a legit Eiffel Tower.

Linc moved in on my other side, his hand in Arden’s. “How’s the new job treating you?”

“Yeah,” Sutton called. “I heard the boss is a real piece of work.”

I smiled. “Which one, you or Thea?”

Sutton laughed. “Both.”

Linc frowned down at me. “You seem…good.”

Arden smacked his stomach. “Cowboy.”

“What?” he asked, his brows pulling together.

I shook my head. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Not bad,” Linc said quickly. “Just surprising. I mean, after the photos.”

“ConCon, as Lolli would say, stop harshing my buzz.”

My brother’s mouth quirked in a half smile. “And what buzz is that?”

“The happy buzz. I have a house I’m slowly making my own. A job that’s fun. A new dog?—”

“And goat,” Arden added.

“And goat,” I amended. “My brother’s making me an auntie. I’m making good friends. I’m happy.”

Linc’s expression softened. “Trace a part of that happiness?”

I couldn’t help the way I braced at the question. Maybe because, as much as I’d been standing on my own lately, there was still a part of me that wanted Linc’s approval, and I couldn’t decide if that was healthy or not. I’d wasted so much of my life doing what others wanted because I didn’t want to lose them.

I rocked from my heels to my tiptoes and let the answer out with my breath. “Yes. He’s a part of that.”

I felt Linc’s gaze on me, but he didn’t speak right away. When he finally did, it was a single word. “Okay.”

My eyes shot to my brother. “That’s it? I was bracing for a lecture or a warning or—or?—”

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