Page 18 of Heartless
“Fine.” She sticks her hand out to me, and I instantly let my palm meet hers. I can feel the dainty bone in her wrist against the pads of my calloused fingers. “I will send you texts. I will keep himmostlysugar free. But if you act like a dick, I’m going to call you out on it.”
“I have no doubt you will, Red.”
We’re still shaking hands. It’s a handshake that has lasted longer than is proper. It’s a threat or a promise—I’m just not sure which.
6
Willa
Willa:I just got up.
Cade:Okay?
Willa:I’m making coffee.
Cade:Alright.
Willa:I’m getting dressed for the day. Panties? CHECK.
Cade:Too much information.
Willa:Luke is now awake.
Cade:Oh good.
Willa:He peed.
Cade:The bed?
Willa:No. In the toilet. Sounded like a big one. Like when Austin Powers comes out of being frozen or whatever.
Cade:Why are you telling me this?
Willa:Just keeping you apprised of *everything we do!!!*
Cade:I already regret telling you that.
Willa:Oh, I’m just getting started.
Cade:Willa.
Willa:Remember that time you BEGGED me to stay?
* * *
“Let’s just put some back in the bag!” Luke says, standing on a chair beside me at the kitchen counter as we stare into the bowl of pancake mix.
The pancake mix that is now more chocolate chips than batter. I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty sure this ratio is off. I forgot that children’s motor skills aren’t super refined and handing Luke a bag of chocolate chips to put in might not have been the most strategic plan I’ve come up with in my life.
“Dude. We can’t put them back in.”
He shrugs, not looking sad about it. “I guess we’ll just have to eat them.”
I try not to laugh. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he did it on purpose. “Guess so.”
We move his chair over to the stove, and I read him the riot act about hot elements, telling him that his dad will bury me in a hay field somewhere if I let him get burned.
He giggles and tells me I’m hilarious.
