Page 121 of Cougar

“Cool.” He raps his knuckles against the counter. “Can I use your car to go over to Mom and Dad’s?”

I roll my eyes. “The keys are by the door.” I point. “Be careful with my baby, Liam, or I’ll kick your ass.”

He holds his hands up defensively. “It’s a car, Emerson. Chill.” He turns on his heels and jogs out the door.

When he’s gone, I turn back to Cam.

“You’re just keeping all kinds of secrets.”

“Says the woman who needs a deadbolt for her closet full of skeletons.”

I snort a laugh. “Touché.”

“How didyoufind out about Zoe?”

“Because she’s here.”

“Here?”

“Yep. She’s upstairs with Logan.”

A few minutes later, Logan comes into the room carrying his daughter.

Cam smiles and steps forward. “This must be the infamous Zoe.”

* * *

“And she’s down!” Marcus hollered through a laugh.

“It’s not funny, Daddy!” Jay shouted from the center of the ice rink. She pushed out her bottom lip in a pout and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Aw, Marcus, go out there and help her.”

He stood from the bench and skated over to where Jay was still sitting and pouting. He extended his hands and helped her to her feet, guiding her around the rink on shaky legs.

She made it around twice before she was done.

“Shit!” Zach shouts as Jay’s butt hits the ice. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replies, obviously frustrated.

Zach looks over at me. “She really sucks at this. Can you tell her to stop before she breaks something?”

I shrug, amused at his concern. “She won’t quit until she makes it around the rink twice,” I tell him. “We go through this every year.”

“Why don’t you go out there and help her?” Cam suggests.

“Because I don’t skate, and I don’t want to break my damn arm. B, go out there and rescue your princess,” Zach urges.

Liam throws his head back and laughs. “Bass is about as graceful on a pair of skates as a newborn elephant. YouTube that shit. It’s funny as hell. I got this.” He’ll jump at any chance to be her hero. Liam stands from the bench and skates over to Jay. She laughs and holds up her hands. He pulls her to her feet and guides her on shaky legs around the rink.

Cam leans into my ear and whispers, “I got you something. It’s wrapped and in the top drawer of your nightstand. Wear it for me tonight.”

“Are you crazy?” I bug my eyes out at him. “Liam’s here.”

Cam shrugs. “He’s gotta sleep sometime.”

* * *

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