Page 155 of Ice Darling
He shakes his head. “Her therapist will kill me. I’m not keeping a schedule with her at all.”
“One teeny piece of chocolate cake won’t hurt,” I assure him.
“I bet she’ll find a loophole that I’m not thinking of.”
“Come on. Gordie’s not like that.”
He gives me a you-gotta-be-kidding look. “I love my daughter. She’s perfect tome. But when it comes to getting what she wants, she’s a pint-sized mastermind.”
“It can’t be that bad,” I insist as we walk into the house together.
I’m immediately proven wrong.
Gordie is sitting around the island counter in the kitchen, tearing intothelargest slice of chocolate cake I’ve ever seen in my life.
Brenda sees Renthrow’s disapproving stare and points at my mom. “It wasn’t me.”
“Well, I…” Mom twiddles her thumb. “I heard she could have one slice.”
“Gordie, I think you’ve had enough cake,” Renthrow says in a quiet but firm voice.
“But, Daddy…”
Renthrow pushes the chocolate cake away and swings Gordie into his arms. “Thank you for the meal, Sasha, but it’s getting close to Gordie’s bedtime.”
“Oh.” Mom’s eyelashes flutter, and I can tell she wants to ask them to stay. “Thank you for coming. It was very nice to meet Cordelia’s?—”
I shoot Gordie a panicked look.
Mom corrects herself just in time. “New friends.”
Gordie waves. “Bye, Ms. Sasha. Thanks for the food.”
“You’re welcome, darling,” Mom says, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Renthrow focuses on me, and the memory of the kiss hangs between us, filling the air with tension. The butterflies in my stomach riot when he arches a brow in question and tosses his head subtly at the door.
It’s an unspoken invitation to come with them.
I shake my head and wiggle my fists to mimic riding a motorcycle. I don’t want to leave my baby at Mom’s house or else I’ll be forced to come back here. And I have no plans to do that.
Renthrow dips his chin in understanding.
“Daddy, I want to give Delia a hug.” Gordie squirms to be put down.
Renthrow walks closer to me and says gruffly, “Go ahead.”
Gordie sighs like her father has no clue about anything. Then she reaches out to me. “Bye, Delia. I hope you feel better soon.”
My heart melts into a puddle. “Thanks, Gordie.”
Just before Renthrow pulls back, he presses something into my hand. His eyes soften on me as he says, “Goodnight, Cordelia. Ride safe.”
I look down and find the missing key to my bike. How did he get this?
Renthrow meets my inquiring look with a wink and escorts his mother and daughter out of the house.
Mom sees them to the door while I find my helmet on the table in the foyer. After shutting the door, Mom turns to me and lets the silence fill the distance between us.
