Page 113 of Jay Bird
She gave him a funny look.
He grinned. “I’m just giving you options.”
She smiled as he stepped back.
From somewhere down the hallway came Lily’s excited little voice.
“POOOOL!”
Willow and Jay Bird both looked toward the door.
He sighed. “I think staying home has been vetoed.”
“Apparently.”
“She’s very demanding.”
“You created this monster with pancakes.”
“I’m pretty sure she came that way.”
Willow laughed and picked up the lightweight cover-up she had laid across the bed. She slipped it on over her bathing suit and tied it loosely around her waist.
The scars disappeared for now.
Jay Bird didn’t say anything. He just picked up the pool bag from the floor and headed toward the door as though nothing about the last ten minutes had changed the way he saw her.
“Jay?”
He stopped and looked back.
Willow hesitated before walking over and slipping her arms around his waist.
He immediately returned the embrace.
“Thank you.”
He chuckled against her hair. “I thought we were working on that.”
“I know. But that one deserved it.”
“Fine. I guess I’ll allow it.”
She smiled against his chest.
A second later, Lily appeared in the doorway wearing her purple-and-blue swimsuit, pink water shoes, and a sun hat that was already crooked.
“POOL!”
Jay Bird looked down at her. “Yes, Peanut. We’re going.”
Lily threw both hands into the air as if she had personally won some major victory before racing back down the hallway.
Willow laughed and pulled away from Jay Bird.
“Ready?” he asked.
The question wasn’t really about the pool party. Willow knew that.
