Page 54 of Zale's Little Girl

The group studied the soaked remains of the blackened grill.

“They were really hot,” Pippa couldn’t resist saying.

Koa rolled his eyes. “It’s a good thing I like you, Pippa.”

“I like you, too, Koa. What was her name?”

“Captain Giana Mancini,” Koa told them with a smile. “I’ll go apologize again tomorrow.”

“Do you think she wants to see you?” Max asked.

“Oh, she wants to see me. She just doesn’t know it yet,” Koa assured them. “That was my little girl.”

“I don’t think she’s little, Koa,” Aspen told him.

“She is. Some Littles are experts at hiding their real selves,” Koa observed.

One glance at Aspen and Pippa knew her friend was thinking the same thing she was. Many Littles hid who they were untilsomeone special saw through that. Koa could be right, even though they hadn’t seen anything to give them a hint.

“Koa, if you’re next to find your Little, we’re happy for you,” Zale told him. “Just don’t offer to start a fire for her. That didn’t work too well here.”

The laughter that filled the backyard almost dispersed the lingering smoke. Almost.

The End