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“Better question,” I began and took a couple steps into the room, still refusing to remove my eyes from Colette. “What movie do you girls want to watch, because I’m not going back out there. No way.” I tossed athumb over my shoulder, and Colette’s wide eyes shifted to confusion as she tipped her head.

“You don’t have a TV in here,” Azelie stated and plopped back down in her mom’s lap.

“True, but I do have a laptop, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got Bernie’s password to one of his streaming services.” I wiggled my brows as Colette’s confusion softened.

“You knew?” she mouthed.

I nodded once. Worry briefly flashed across her face as every line on her beautiful, freckled skin deepened. So, I winked. “It’s okay. We’ll talk later,” I mouthed in response. Later. How many days would this “later” turn into?

“Who’s Bernie?” Azelie asked, clearly oblivious to the exchange between her mom and me.

I chuckled and ran my hand through my hair. “A buddy of mine. He’s a bit of a shithead, but he’s a good dude.”

Shouting increased from the living room, and the two girls stitched their brows together. “Why the hell did you stay out there as long as you did?” Colette asked.

“You think I wanted to?” I rolled my eyes. “Every time I tried to sneak off, my mama or yours would look at me and be like ‘back me up on this Ford.’ Do you know how awkward it was to be in the middle of that?” I walked toward my dresser, where my laptop was sitting.

“Why do you think we hid in here the moment we got home? Breakfast was too pleasant,” Colette continued.

“Yeah, well they’re politely arguing now, and it’s the strangest fucking thing. My mom said that your restaurant’s tators are the best tots, and then your mom argues back with, and I quote, ‘that doesn’t matter ’cause your gumbo is the best!’” I grabbed the laptop and spun around.

“Then my mawmaw cursed in French, your dad spat back also in French some words I won’t repeat in front of the child. And here I am, somehow wondering how it took me, with actual training, thirty fucking minutes to get myself out of that conversation,” I finished.

Walking around the foot of the mattress, I plopped the laptop beside Colette as the two girls snorted at the same time.

“I’m sorry,” Colette quickly apologized and then covered her mouth quickly as Azelie burst out in a full belly laugh.

I clicked my tongue. “Anyway, what you girls chatting about?”

“Nothing,” Azelie quickly stated, cutting her laugh short. Colette chuckled quietly and continued to play with Azelie’s hair.

I grinned widely and dropped to my knees. Placing my elbows against the edge of the bed, I plunked my chin in my hands and wiggled my shoulders. “Oooo, boy gossip. I love it! Tell me more.”

Azelie giggled as Colette smiled.

“Did something happen with Cory after I dropped you off?” I pressed, and Azelie rolled her eyes.

“Nooooo,” she defensively stated as her cheeks flushed red.

I couldn’t help but smile even wider as my chest grew warm. Even if things were going to blow up eventually, at least in this moment, here I was, talking to my family like we were normal. As if everything was okay.As if Colette and I weren’t chasms apart with secrets and danger separating us.

For a moment, I had it all. Because I had her.

“How about this,” Colette said, watching Azelie. “You go brush your teeth so you’re ready for bed while Ford and I pick out a movie. But make sure you’re quiet and don’t get caught.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Azelie replied with a smile and sat up. She glanced at me as she climbed off the bed. “Thank you for taking me, by the way.”

I nodded as she quietly crept from the room, leaving Colette and me alone.

“So, how long have you known?” she immediately asked the moment the door latched shut. I studied Colette. She watched me intently in return, an indecipherable number of emotions flashing across her face.

“Since the first time I picked her up,” I answered and pushed myself up from the floor.

Her brows inched together as relief dropped her shoulders away from her ears. “And you’re not mad I didn’t exactly…tell you?”

I shook my head. “Nah. Cher, we’ve experienced fifteen years of life without each other. There’s going to be surprises and new things to share with each other.”

A timid smile lifted on her lips as her eyes misted over. “Even though I technically lied by not correcting you?”