Page 36 of Chasing Shelter

Lolli made apshsound and waved him off, moving toward me. “He’s such a stick-in-the-mud. How about you and I hit up the cowboy bar instead? Save a horse, ride a cowboy?”

“Why would you ride a cowboy, Supergran? That seems silly. Or is it like a piggyback ride?” Keely asked innocently.

Trace’s scowl morphed into a glare. “Thanks so much, Lolls.”

She just laughed. “Just like that, my girl.”

Keely looked up at her dad, beaming. “I wanna save a horse and ride a cowboy.”

“Dear God, take me now,” Trace muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I tried to hold in my laugh but couldn’t, not even when I clamped my lips shut.

“I don’t know what you’re laughing about. You started this,” Trace growled.

“Oh, no you don’t, Chief. This is on you and your drill-sergeant ways.”

“Drill sergeant, huh?” Lolli asked in a stage whisper. “There is something about a man who can order you around.”

“Lolli,” Trace warned.

“What? It’s good to be open and honest about our sexuality. It’s healthy.”

“I’m going to change my shirt,” Trace grumbled, stalking out of the kitchen.

“He’s grouchy,” Keely muttered. “Is that because he’s not dancing enough like you said, Supergran?”

“It’s certainly not helping. But what he really needs is some horizontal dancing. Break through that dry patch.”

Keely frowned. “I don’t know horizontal dancing.” She looked at me. “Do you?”

Lolli grinned in my direction. “Yeah, Ellie, you know much about horizontal dancing?”

My face flamed. “I see why your grandkids keep you on a short leash,” I mumbled.

“They try, but they fail every time,” Lolli said, twirling around the kitchen.

But Keely was still stuck on my dancing abilities—or lack thereof. “Could you take my dad dancing?”

She was the cutest kid and the best daughter, just trying to look out for her dad. “You know what, bestie? I’m taking a dancing break right now.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Lolli agreed. “Living is for the young. You don’t want to miss it.”

“I’m not. But my last dance partner wasn’t the best, so I’m taking my time with the next one.”

Lolli stilled for a moment, and I worried I’d given too much away. But then she moved into my space and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Girls’ nights for a while, then. Can’t have those boys holding us back.”

“Can I come?” Keely begged.

“Of course, you can,” I said instantly. “I gotta have my bestie there.”

Keely danced all over the kitchen as Lolli turned to me. “You tackle the dishwasher. I’ll handle the berries.”

My mouth curved as I tugged off my damp sweatshirt. “I’m not sure I can execute it to the sergeant’s pleasure, but I’ll do my best.”

Lolli cackled. “Honey, no one can. He goes to family dinners and rearranges Nora’s dishwasher every time.”

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