Page 61 of Ink Me Three Times
It doesn’t take long until we get near the fire station, where my brother is leaning up against the bay doors with his friends.
"UNCLE JEEEEESSEEEE!"
Penny takes off like a tiny missile, rain boots thudding, arms pumping like a cartoon character in fast forward.
"Wait, Penny…!"
Too late. She’s already halfway across the grass and launching herself into Jesse’s arms like a sugar high cannonball.
He catches her with practiced ease and grins. "Hey! There’s my favorite lil’ monkey."
"You see my unicorn hoodie?" she demands, pulling the hood up over her head and immediately tripping on her own feet. "I run sofastnow."
"She does," I say, catching up, trying to sound normal and not like someone caught trespassing inside their own disaster.
Jesse smirks at me.
"You look tired," he says.
"Iamtired," I shoot back, cocking a brow. I should make a joke about him being shattered since he’s never at home. Always at Vanessa’s…
But I don’t.
Because the last thing I need is him noticing things about me too.
Penny’s now halfway through an interpretive dance slash ninja battle on the sidewalk, her unicorn hood flapping dramatically.
Karl tips his head toward her. "She’s clearly thriving. That’s a solid spin kick."
"She’s training for toddler Fight Club," I say dryly. "First rule is nobody naps."
That gets a chuckle from Jesse and a laugh from Karl. For a minute, it feels good. Like old times. Like before I turned intothe kind of person who fools around with my boss, and the Everett twins…
Oh no.
Leo sips his coffee. "You settling in okay? Jesse’s place treating you right?"
I nod. "Yeah. I mean, the floor creaks like it’s trying to communicate from the afterlife, but otherwise, all good."
Jesse bumps my shoulder lightly. "Told you you’d like it here."
"You did," I admit. "You’ve been right about… a few things lately."
His eyebrows rise. "Only a few?"
"I don’t want it going to your head."
Karl grins and leans back against the doorframe. "Well, good to hear the Fletcher name isn’t causingtoomuch scandal these days."
I freeze.
Just a fraction. A heart beat’s worth of stillness. But it hits.
Is he just teasing… or has he heard something? I don’t know how intense Coyote Glen gossip is…
I laugh it off as best I can. "Give it time. I haven’t even joined the neighborhood Facebook group yet."
Jesse snorts. "Don’t. That place is a hellscape."
