Page 185 of Wild Card 13

“You’re growing a person,” Freya teased. “Drink your leaves.”

Bea gave her a flat look.

The server placed a small plate in the center of the table. Four miniature cinnamon rolls sat beneath a glossy layer of cream-cheese glaze.

Lo’s eyes brightened. “Oh, he does love me.”

“He loves all of us,” Freya sang.

“He tolerates all of you,” I corrected. “He loves Lo.”

Lo looked pleased. “As he should.”

The server smiled like she knew better than to become involved and slipped back out onto the rooftop.

I wrapped both hands around the warm glass, letting heat sink into my fingers. The whiskey rose beneath the coffee, sharp andfamiliar, and I knew without tasting it that Arlo had made it stronger than usual.

Bea watched me over the rim of her teacup.

“No,” I said.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Lo selected a cinnamon roll with delicate precision. “What are we not discussing?”

“Nothing,” I said.

“Buzz,” Bea said at the exact same time.

I turned my head slowly toward her. Bea took a bite of croissant and looked completely unrepentant.

Lo paused with the cinnamon roll halfway to her plate. “Ty?”

“No,” I said again.

Freya’s grin widened. “Oh, definitely Ty.”

Lo looked between the three of us, her expression shifting from curious to delighted with alarming speed. “What did that boy do now?”

“Nothing,” I groaned.

“He called her Shortcake,” He called her Shortcake,” Bea interjected, delight bright in her eyes.

“Oh,” Lo said. Very slowly, she lowered the cinnamon roll to her plate.

I closed my eyes.

Freya made a small sound of satisfaction. “See? Even Lo understands the significance.”

“I understand many things,” Lo said, leaning back in her chair. Her mouth twitched. “But I will admit, I did not expect to be gifted that one before I finished my first cinnamon roll.”

“It is not a gift,” I snapped.

“It feels like a gift to me,” Bea replied.

Lo turned toward me fully, one elbow resting lightly against the arm of her chair. “Shortcake?”

I reached for my Irish coffee. “He used to call me that in high school. It was annoying then. It is annoying now. That is the entire story.”