Page 86 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
Hadley
Wednesday morning Hadley bounced down the stairs humming to herself. A week ago, she’d have claimed no reasonable person should be awake at this hour.
Even on school days, she was more likely to grumble as she rolled out of bed, put minimal effort in, and headed to class.
Her grandpa fiddled with the coffee maker as she entered the kitchen.
“Morning!” She leaned in to kiss his cheek before moving to the fridge.
“Where is my grouser?” He laughed. “I’m usually the only morning person around here.”
She glanced at the window over the sink, seeing the first rays of light illuminate the darkness. “Well, maybe I’m changing.”
He studied her for a moment before his eyes softened. “I can see that.”
Grabbing her yogurt smoothie from inside the fridge door, she slid onto a stool to face him. “You know… you don’t have to get up this early just because I do.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, my darling gran.” He shrugged. “When else am I going to get to see you? You crash pretty much right after you get home every night.”
“I’m sorry. I—”
He cut her off. “Don’t be sorry. I just miss you. I like seeing you before you leave in the morning.” He walked around the counter and kissed the top of her head, whispering into her hair, “And I like seeing you happy.”
“I’m always happy.”
He laughed. “No. Before Roman moved in, your only friend was Charlotte. You intimidate people, Hadley.”
“Because I’m so brilliant?”
“Because your mind never stops working. This week though… it like you’re letting yourself relax and just be.”
“Papa, do you realize how hard the work at the ranch is? There is no relaxing.” Except when Spencer found reasons to get her away from the others for two days straight, but she wasn’t going to tell Papa about that.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s hard to explain. I just like seeing you…”
“Happy? You said that.”
He laughed. “Fine. Don’t give an old man a break.”
“You’re not old, Papa. You’re aged.” Her snarky smile spread slowly. “Like a moldy cheese.”
“I think you’re supposed to say fine cheese.”
She smirked. “Nope.”
He ruffled her hair, messing up the braid she’d spent hardly any time on.
“Careful.” She narrowed her eyes. “I spent a lot of effort on this look.”
He scanned her jeans from the frayed hems to the too loose waist before taking in her t-shirt with a hole in the bottom of it. Charlotte would be mortified at the clothes she wore, but they fit the ranch in a weird way. They fit Spencer.
If she showed up in nicer clothes and with her hair done, he’d probably think she was a fool.
Roman entered the kitchen with a yawn. “Who is going to tube feed me coffee?”
Hadley raised one in-need-of-a-pluck eyebrow. “What is sleeping beauty doing up so early?”
“Aw.” He put a hand to his chest. “Hadley thinks I’m beautiful.” He rubbed a hand over her head on his way by.
