Page 53 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
Maybe I needed to lie down too.
“Where are you going?” Riley popped her head out of the kitchen, catching me off-guard.
I pressed my hand to my chest and willed my heart to slow. Whatever was wrong with me, it was time to ignore it and push through like I always had to do. “I’m going to talk some sense into Grace. She doesn’t need to stay out there all night.”
“Kieran said she wants to,” Ember spoke from somewhere in the kitchen. I leaned forward to see her sitting on the counter, sticking a spoon into a tub of ice cream.
It’d been so long since I had ice cream.
“It’s a dragon loyalty thing,” Ember said between spoonfuls. “Just let her do it. Besides, it’s good for their health to shift when they’re angry.”
“And you’re the dragon expert now?” I licked my lips as I watched Ember take another bite. It looked like vanilla with bits of caramel and chocolate mixed in. Not my favorite flavor, but I’d still enjoy it.
A little sugar would definitely help with the headache building behind my right eye.
“Nope. Just trying to get you to relax.” Ember winked. “Speaking of which, you’re supposed to still be in your room.”
“Why?” I stepped forward, drawn by the allure of the ice cream in my friend’s hand. She’d share, right? I could justimagine the cool taste melting on my tongue. Maybe I should’ve tried to make some ice cream.
Has Harper ever eaten it in her life?
I was a horrible mom.
“Because we can’t surprise you if you aren’t upstairs.” Riley sighed behind me.
I turned, seeing the tray in her hands with a bottle of wine. Popcorn in bowls. Some cheese cubes and apple slices. And another small tub of what looked like homemade strawberry ice cream.
My eyes almost filled with tears.
“Is that for me?”
∞
The ice cream didn’t even make it up the stairs. In my defense, the tub was really small. A single serving size. Plus Harper didn’t need the sugar before bed. I did. It was just what the doctor ordered.
The pain in my body seemed to melt away, leaving nothing more than a strange ache in my chest.
I could deal with that.
Harper barely noticed us anyway as she accepted her popcorn and went back to her movie. I knew I’d be brushing kernels off the bed from where she sat propped on the black and red pillows like some kind of modern princess.
“Oh, I could get used to this.” Riley moaned as she laid on the mattress in the room across the hall we’d moved to so we didn’t interrupt Harper. “It’s amazing. Come feel.”
I set down my wine glass and followed Ember over to the bed. The three of us sprawled out, looking up at the coffered ceiling.
“What are we—”
“Shh,” Riley interrupted Ember. “Don’t think. Just feel.”
I sighed as I closed my eyes. “I don’t think it has springs.”
“How is that possible?” Riley whispered as if afraid to break the spell.
“Money, or dragon magic.” Either way, I wasn’t complaining. I could totally get used to this sort of comfort.
Which was dangerous.
But that was a problem for morning-me.
