Page 58 of Small Town, Big Storm

“I don’t know how, and Mom isn’t good at skating either?—”

That earns me a look.

“Never had a reason to learn,” I say.

Especially after a certain hockey player stomped on my heart.

“Right,” he says then bends down in front of Holly.“I’d be happy to teach you.But you may fall down a few times.”

“That’s okay.”She’s bouncing with excitement again.“I fell down loads of times when I learned to ride my bike.”

I can see that’s another blow, missing out on that too, but he manages to say, his voice even, “I bet that was super hard.”

A sage nod.“It was.But I’m really good at biking now.”

“Then I have no doubt you’ll get really good at skating too.”

“Really?”

“Reallyreally,” he says, ruffling her hair.

“Yes, Storm will be the bestest teacher ever,” Rain interjects as he crouches down, turns his voice whiny.“But can we please, pretty puh-wease get double chocolate chip cookies now?I’m wasting away over here.”

Storm sighs, shakes his head, but he’s chuckling as he jerks his chin toward the bakery and says, for some odd reason, “Salads first, bro.”

I frown.

Who wants salads when they can get cinnamon rolls from Molly’s?

Or double chocolate chip cookies?

Or—my gaze goes to Storm’s again—peaches and cream muffins?

And right on cue, proving that she’s definitely my daughter, Holly says?—

“But I don’t like salads.”

Seventeen

Storm

Tap.Tap.Tap!

“Fucking hell,” I mutter, pulling the pillow over my head.

The man literally never sleeps.

Tap.Tap.Tap!

I clamp the pillow tighter.

Tap.Tap.Tap!

“All right.Christ!” I grab my phone, note it’s barely after seven in the morning.

See?

Rain never fucking sleeps.