Page 107 of ICED
“Good. You still want me to get Daz come by and check the system again? Make sure it wasn’t a glitch?”
I pause. Ollie’s not just one of my best mates, when the alarm went off a couple weeks ago and nothing seemed out of place, he offered to get his cousin in to help.
“Nah,” I say after a second. “It hasn’t triggered again, and we’ve been careful. Think it might’ve just been a bird or something that set off the motion sensor.”
“Alright. Just say the word if that changes. Daz got a new set of cameras we can bring over, super discreet.”
“Appreciate it.”
He grins. “What are common-law husbands for?”
I snort, tossing my towel at him. He dodges it, still smiling, but I don’t miss the flash of worry in his eyes. Ollie’s protective by nature, especially when it comes to kids. I think he’d go feral if anything ever hurt Lila.
So would I.
Once I’m dressed, I shoot Maya a quick text.
JACKO: Survived training. Barely. Thinking about this weekend, what if you and Lila came with us? Away game in Manchester. Hotel has a pool.
She replies almost immediately.
MAYA: Will there be room service pancakes?
JACKO: I’ll make sure of it.
MAYA: Then we’re in.
I grin like an idiot at my phone until Ollie peeks over my shoulder.
“Gross. You’re doing that thing where your face looks like a romcom poster.”
“Jealous?”
“Desperately.”
After we finish up media duties and film review, I head back to Maya’s. It’s just after two when I walk through the door, and the scent of warm chocolate hits me like a wall.
Lila’s at the kitchen counter with a smudge of batter on her nose, wielding a wooden spoon like a weapon. Maya’s beside her in one of my hoodies, licking chocolate off her finger and looking up with that same sleepy-smiley face from this morning.
“Hey, Bear,” Lila chirps. “We made brownies but they’re healthy ‘cause they have beans in them.”
“Beans?”
“Black beans,” Maya says, amused. “We found the recipe on one of your hockey websites.”
“I made them with LOVE,” Lila adds dramatically. “And also, with extra honey.”
“Guess I’m ruined for regular brownies now.”
She beams. “I’ll save you one. But you gotta share.”
I scoop her up and spin her around, ignoring the smear of chocolate she leaves on my shirt. “Deal.”
Once she’s back on her stool, Maya hands me a cup of tea and leans in to kiss me hello. “You look wrecked.”
“I am wrecked. Jonno tried to murder us.”
She smirks. “Better him than me.”
