Page 65 of Hold Me Tight

“Seems like they’re trying to take something that doesn’t belong to them,” Knox mutters.

Before the mood can sink any lower, Elody bounds back into the kitchen, face flushed as she beams. “Daddy! Nora likes my stickers!”

Laiken’s expression relaxes in an instant. “That’s great, sweetheart. Keep showing her, okay?”

The little girl nods before spinning on her heel and skipping back to the living room.

We all watch her go, and I realize there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this group of guys. What I’ve learned is that blood isn’t the only thing that makes you family.

It’s showing up.

And all of us?

We’re just trying to figure it out as we go.

One messy, yogurt-covered day at a time.

25

Callie

When I step into Lakeshore Sweets, Sloane is already behind the counter with her sleeves rolled up and her hair twisted into a messy knot, restocking the pastry case with practiced ease. She looks up when the bell above the door chimes, shooting me a smile.

It’s the voices coming from the back of the shop that have me pausing.

I glance over and spot Lilah and Rina huddled at the corner table, a half-eaten cinnamon roll sitting between them. Rina’s laughing while Lilah gestures animatedly with her teacup like she’s mid-story.

I lift a hand and wave. “Hey. I didn’t know you two were stopping by this morning.”

Rina doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she gives me a slow once-over, eyes narrowing in a way that immediately makes me self-conscious.

“Hmmm. There’s something different about you,” she says, pointing her coffee stirrer at me.

“Is there?”

Sloane leans an elbow on the counter and raises an eyebrow. “Actually, Rina’s right. You’ve got that look.”

I blink. “What look?”

“The I-just-got-laid-and-I’m-still-enjoying-the-afterglow look,” Sloane says.

Lilah chokes on her tea, coughing into her sleeve as Rina smirks. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

The laugh that slips free is a little too quick and a little too loud. “Oh, come on. Give me a break.”

“Hold up.” Rina rises to her feet. “That was in no way a denial. It was more of a deflection. We’re onto you, girl.”

“You’re kind of scary, you know that?” I grumble as she saunters closer.

A wide grin spreads across her face. “Thank you. I always strive for intimidating with just a hint of menace sprinkled in.”

“Someday she might actually decide to use her powers for good instead of evil,” Lilah calls out.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Sloane says, already pouring a fresh pot of coffee. She grabs a honey lavender cruller from the case and sets it on a small plate. “But in the meantime, this definitely feels like a pastry-and-interrogation kind of morning.”

A few minutes later, we’re all gathered at the back table, our coffee cups steaming and a spread of sugary goodness set out between us. The cinnamon rolls are joined by a couple of croissants, the cruller, and something Sloane swears is the best lemon scone she’s ever made.

After a bite, I have to agree.