EL

thing I fe

behind my eyes like a warning siren. I groaned, rolling onto my side, only

a

curt

and panic instantly

sn't my

he sheets were crisp and smelled faintly of lavender. The room was... elegant. Minimalist but expensive. A plush armchair sat in one corner besid

the he

some miraculous clue would jump

g myself a drink, a lap. A tall man. Dark eyes. Sharp j

my

a breath, he

some stranger's l

ell is wro

like a second skin. I buried m

clearly wasn't finished punish

H

full of curls bounded into the room. She grinn

a hangover. That means your head is mad at

inked at her.

. "You were sleeping in the guest room. We made pancak

absolutely no id

eep over 'cause of a sleepover? Are

da look famous? Was it a

only made my headache worse. "I re

k funny. Like Aunt Ri

ut how to speak to a tiny person while sp

here

on

s imaginable. A black plain T-shirt and a matching black jog

orframe, a glass of wate

he said, voice

mpletely mortified. "

ls on the nightstand. "You weren't in any shape to g

m. "Can she come

id gently. "Go he

if she's going to b

yr

ically but obeyed, skippin

I'm so sorry. I swear I don't normally... thro

rs of his mouth twitched. "You said

I groaned. "J

was fine quickly "It was e

ul nod. "Thank you. For the water. And f

ing back toward the door. "Come down wh

ed shut behind him, I let

horrified-his child. And the stranger happened to be the

he actu

g to get mysel

**

hat I had the strength to face whatever fresh embarrassment awaited me downstairs. My

on anyone. That had t

ly thing tethering me to Earth. The scent of maple syrup and butter drifte

ter. Soft, familiar, childlike laughte

d followed the sound toward w

jamas and oversized pink bunny slippers. She was stabbing a pancak

island, flipping another pancake with ease. His sleeves were pushed up, reve

n I was expecting to see when

holding up the freshly flip

atic sigh. "Medium brown. Like almost

" he said, m

he scene. There was something achingly sweet about

hen, eyes c

u're just in time f

uddenly unsure what to do with my arms.

toward one of the chairs a

I was watching

the fluffiest one! Daddy says fluf

"I said no

ng it," she repl

gs. The plate in front of me held three perfectly round pancakes topped with a few slices

ergic" He said, slid

ile. "Not allergic.

he said

tery. Slightly sweet. Da

her hands and stared at

er swallowing. "And

er curls bounced. "L

your mid

t like it, s

ine laugh-and some of the

ing syrup onto his own plate. "Last week, she was Lyr

prefer that one

e drunken strangers. He didn't act like one either. He was too... normal. Too calm. He hadn't asked me

dn't

ng slowly. "So... what exa

of his coffee mug. "You want the

nes

in the lounge, climbed into my lap, and started telling me how

hands. "I want to crawl unde

he added gently. "I couldn't leave y

Daddy said you were very tired. And tha

ough my fing

des you did look tired and yo

in my ches

why you'd help a complet

a while before turning back to his

im, unsure of

at my makeup or my outfit or my curves-but through me.

n we go to the park after breakfast? I want to

ffee. "If Evelyn doesn't run screamin

ay that like it's not a

omething warm twi

s your

lco

xpecting but he definitel

ner I got out of here the sooner I

start looking for a new job. Maybe I'll

y is just starting and