Page 42 of Lost on Ice
Suddenly, I realize it’s not a dream.
Something is actually tickling my hair.
I pop my eyes open and find myself face-to-face with Lilah. She’s trying to put a golden plastic crown with fake gems on my head, but the moment she sees I’m awake, she giggles and runs out of the room. Despite my fatigue, I laugh. Having siblings, you get used to this sort of thing, and warmth floods through me at the sound of her laughter. This feels deeper than just playing with siblings, though; as I hear her little pounding footsteps, there’s a tender feeling I can’t quite name settling in my chest. Eyes closed, I listen as she scrambles to the kitchen. Abbie gently scolds her.
“Lilah, I told you not to wake him up. That wasn’t very nice of you.”
“Sorry, Mommy.”
Chuckling softly, I climb out of the tangle of blankets and make my way into the kitchen. I’m still not fully awake, and bang my muscular shoulder into the side of the door. Abbie stares at me. I smile.
“Good morning,” I say, scratching the side of my head. “Gotta say, the smell of whatever you’re cooking is drawing me in like a moth to a lightbulb.”
“Hopefully it doesn’t cause the same result.” Abbie narrows her eyes, but there’s a smile on her face.
“Hope not.”
Abbie is cautious, still, but there’s a different vibe to our interactions now. I get it. Whatever drama is between us matters less than keeping her safe.
She is wearing an oversized t-shirt and tiny shorts that show off her slender legs. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun and I have the sudden urge to wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her neck. I want to leave a mark there so that anyone who sees her knows she has someone.
Especially that fucker stalking her. I want to make it clear that he better stay the hell away from her.
I’m brimming with rage at the thought, but also crippling guilt. If I’d been around, this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe she wouldn’t have left for Harrisburg if I’d stayed in touch with her. She wouldn’t have felt the need to leave Ivy Glen, and wouldn’t have had to raise her child alone.
Wouldn’t have stumbled on to the motherfucker’s radar.
There’s not much I can do about the past, but I’m not going to let anything happen to her or Lilah now. I’m going to be here. I’m going to protect them.
I’m going to make this stalker bastard regret ever bothering Abbie to begin with.
“Hope your shoulder isn’t going to fall off after that plunge into the door frame,” she murmurs, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. “Have a seat. Breakfast is just about ready.”
Nodding, I move to the kitchen table and settle into one of the chairs. A moment later, Abbie places a plate loaded with bacon, eggs, and pancakes in front of me.
“Woah,” I whistle. “That’s quite the spread.”
“I know you have to keep your energy up,” she replies matter-of-factly. “Carb load before practice or a game.”
I grin up at her. “Thanks. That’s thoughtful of you.”
She blinks, her cheeks turning pink and then quickly picks up Lilah to settle her in her booster seat next to me. Abbie places a Minnie Mouse-shaped plate with a pancake, strawberries, eggs, and a little bit of bacon in front of her.
Without thinking, I start cutting up Lilah’s food into smaller pieces. I’m halfway through the pancake before I realize what I’m doing. My hand stills over the plate, but the kid’s already watching me with those big, curious eyes, so I finish what I started.
“Do you want some syrup, princess?” I ask, reaching for the bottle.
Lilah scrunches up her nose and shakes her head. “No, yuck! Honey.”
The corner of my mouth twitches and I arch a brow. “You don’t like syrup? You like honey on your pancakes?”
She eagerly nods. “Yeah!”
I chuckle. “You know what? I like honey on my pancakes too.”
Looking around the table, I spot a jar of honey and grab it, drizzling some on Lilah’s plate.
Across the table, Abbie raises a brow, clearly surprised by my actions.
