Page 149 of Guarded Knight

He’s hydration and heat and a thousand things I never thought I’d get to keep.

“I love that you come here to support your pops,” I say, taking a sip of juice, a far cry from the Sangria we had a month ago, but it will do.

“Of course.” He lifts a brow. “I couldn’t miss over-caffeinated middle-aged women trying to cast a spell on me? It’s a win-win.”

“You mean the ones who write fanfiction about you?” I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.

Luis claps his hands from the front of the room, standing beside Julia, though “beside” is generous. He’s practically leaning into her.

“All right, folks! Today’s book isThe Tide Between Realms, which was probably written for people half our age, but we don’t care! Because we are timeless!”

Julia bumps into his arm with hers, casually. Luis darts his eyes to hers, and both their gazes twinkle before he addresses the room again.

“Now. Instead of our usual fishbowl questions, today is more of a casual get-together, trying to get the kiddos into reading. So we have a little game. Somewhere in this bookstore is a signed copy ofThe Tide.”

The room fills with oohs and aahs.

I need that book.

“And to motivate you boys…” He glances at Owen and Theo, who look up to no good at the refreshments table. “If you actually read it this month, I’ll give you twenty bucks.”

Theo puts down his cookie, and Owen slaps down his red plastic cup so quickly that some of the liquid splashes on the table.

“No ruining the store. If you pick up a book or merch, it goes exactly where you found it or you’re out. Penelope works hard enough to keep this place clean. Well… you know what I mean.” Luis wiggles his eyebrows and points toward the shelves. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

The crowd is poised to plunder.

“Go!”

Chaos erupts.

The kids are laughing, and romance readers in orthopedic sneakers elbow through the store. Luis and Julia stand along one bookcase in a whispered conversation, and Julia laughs, pushing her hair behind her ear.

They aren’t looking too hard.

Ava grabs Enzo’s hand and darts toward the fantasy section. Santi and Kat herd the boys away from the smut shelf. Even Rio looks mildly entertained as he pretends not to look.

Freya and Anton run their fingers along the spines of the shelf next to me. “If I find it, it’s yours,” Freya says to me without taking her eyes off the books.

Anton leans in behind her. “Does that mean I have to hand it over, too?”

Freya smirks. “You can read it first. But then yes…”

I know the spine so well I only have to scan. I finish one shelf with Gabriel behind me patiently.

Just then, a squeal pierces the air. Poppy is holding up a book like she just pulled the sword from the stone. “I found it!”

Everyone claps.

Luis waves Poppy toward the front.

“Go on and look inside, Pops. See if it’s signed.”

She opens the cover, squints, and then frowns. “It’s… addressed to Auntie Lara.”

All eyes shift to me. Huh? My name is in it?