Page 80 of Denial
I bite back a chuckle and busy myself pouring a cup of black coffee. Satisfaction settles in my gut.
“I think that’s a great idea, Nellie. I’d love to have a sleepover with you.”
“I’m going to start planning right now.” Nellie crashes into Alice’s waist, giving her a tight hug.
Alice slaps one hand on the counter for support. With the other, she cradles the back of Nellie’s head. I can’t help but notice the way her expression softens, and how careful she is with my little one.
Nellie tips her chin to smile at her new favorite person and gasps when she sees Alice’s face. “What happened to you?”
Alice’s mouth opens and closes, searching for the words and falling short.
“Alice had an accident, but she’s okay.”
Mom catches my eye from across the room, but I just shake my head. Not now. She can have the full rundown when my daughter isn’t in the room.
Nellie tenses her brow. “Did someone hurt her?” Her tone holds so much concern. Her voice much too little for the gravity of that question.
“No,” Alice answers.
“Yes,” I reply.
Alice shoots me a scowl.
I shrug. “I’m not going to lie.”
Nellie flutters the oversized sleeve covering Alice’s arm. “It’s okay, Miss Alice. My dad is really good at protecting people. He even got an award before. He’s going to catch them and put the bastard in jail.”
“Eleanor,” I admonish, fighting a lip twitch. Intentional or not, she relieves the gravity of the situation. “Language, young lady.”
“What? That’s what you said. You come home from work and tell Grammy that all the time.” She rolls her eyes.
“She’s not lying,” Mom adds.
I rub my palm over my chin and down my neck. I need a shave. “Why don’t you go wash up, and we can work out the details of your sleepover later. Alice hasn’t even had her coffee yet.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t I run out and get breakfast for all of us? That way you don’t need to get ready and rush out.”
“That sounds nice, Mrs. Stone.” Alice finally starts to prep a cup of coffee for herself.
“Please, that makes me sound so old. Call me Bea.”
“Thank you, Bea.”
“I’ll give you some time alone.” Mom zeros in on my sweatshirt covering Alice’s body, reading entirely too much into it. She passes her knowing look between us both before backing out the door.
“She thinks we slept together,” Alice hisses once we’re alone.
“She doesn’t.”
She does.
Inwardly, I groan at the image invoked. Of lazy mornings exploring one another, and Alice wearing my other hoodies just like this one.
Her words from last night at the bar, before everything went to shit, bounce around my skull.
My dick twitches in warning.
Don’t go there.
