Page 53 of Wateredge

“Shh, it will all be great. You will see. Victoria will not even have to weave a spell.” Seren stepped closer and almost comically leaned down from behind until her chin was on Lark’s shoulder. Then she stole a quick kiss.

Victoria and Deryn watched them closely, then Deryn sighed, and Victoria whooped.

“Hundred bucks, baby Crow! A Hundred smackaroos! And with a whole day to spare! Thank you, Seren, for finally moving your behind with some—relative—speed and purpose!”

Victoria twirled in the middle of the kitchen, and Deryn made a face before reaching for her wallet.

“Your grabby hands couldn’t wait, Rennie?”

Seren lifted her head off Lark’s shoulder and glared.

“You bet on us? On whether we would get together?”

“Bah, as if that needed any betting.” Victoria shrugged and pocketed the bills. Deryn crossed her arms over her chest, pouting.

“We bet on the timeframe, you H2Hoe.”

Seren gaped.

“What did you just call me?”

Deryn danced away from Seren’s attempted smack. Victoria waved them away. “No offense, Lark darling, but this is a hundred bucks we are talking about!”

“I’d throw you a standing ovulation if it were that time of the cycle, Der, but this is a touch crass. So no clapping for you, sister of mine.” Rhiannon poked her head into the kitchen and scrunched her nose. “H2Hoe? Where do you even come up with these things? Can’t you just be happy for poor Seren, since Lark has finally taken pity on her pining and yearning sad eyes and agreed to lock lips with her? I wonder when the Caw will publish the news, since Marsha told me about catching glimpses of you guys on the cliffs weeks ago.”

Rhiannon sauntered in and grabbed the biggest carrot from the pile. Victoria swatted at her hand half-heartedly. Rhiannon did not surrender the carrot.

“What are you doing here, Rhy?” Deryn tried to snatch the carrot out of her sister’s hand. Rhiannon leaned farther away from her and bit into it with an exaggerated crunch.

“I’m here to help. Lachlan is on his way, too, since we will need brute force.”

Lark’s eyes filled unexpectedly.

These women… This family… They’re everything.

“Hey, are these tears for me, Lark? Because don’t cry for me, I’m here and at your disposal. And I am doing it out of my civic duty and extreme sense of helpfulness.”

Lachlan glided in, speaking in an exaggerated posh accent, then bumped into Rhiannon and took a bite from her carrot. Deryn glared at both of them.

“Are you going to actually carry things?”

Lachlan flexed his pretty impressive muscles.

“Is she paying you?” Seren asked.

It was Lachlan’s turn to grab his chest theatrically. Lark bit her lip to not laugh out loud.

“How dare you! I’m volunteering. I’m all generosity and altruism.”

Rhiannon smacked him on the back of his head.

“You literally begged me for that lipstick as part of this deal—” Lachlan immediately covered her mouth with his hand.

“Fine, fine, there’s no need to disclose the terms. I know my worth, but sometimes I’m on sale, and this was one of those times. Amazing lipstick shades are hard to find. Plus, it’s for a great cause. And I am donating not just my time but also my money, sweetheart.” He let go of Rhiannon and grabbed the big tub of produce. “Just point me in the direction of where you want these.”

Victoria gave him a kiss on his bearded cheek and pushed him out the door.

“I’ll show this gorgeous boy where to go, so you four hold up the rear once the bread is ready.”