dy's

Nex

to Caden, wrangling his kids, and dodging whatever other chaos that house threw at me. As I got

guard greeted me with a slow, almost mocking smile.

drawled, ope

ut a word. If I stopped to address his at

immediately put me on edge. The kids were alread

nursing a cup of coffee. She looked far too amused for someone

back, determined to sound co

d with a wink before disap

mbed the stairs, bracing mys

jar. Peeking inside, I found Erica and Emily crouched o

oing?" I asked, ste

looks before Erica quickly sho

sweetly, her wide eyes

ing my arms. "What's be

he said hesitantly, i

nting out of the room with Emily hot on h

I shouted, run

laughing like maniacs. By the time I cornered them in the living room

's deep voice cut through the

ever in a crisp suit. His piercing gaze shifted from me to the

" he d

d at me. "Sh

ropped.

ed to explain, but Caden he

one leaving no room for argument

ed off, giggling

turned to Caden. "You seri

unreadable. "I didn't say that. But

fault?" I shot bac

is nose. "I don't have time for thi

and walked out, leaving

myself. You just have

rash, followed by the unmistaka

going to be the lon

lance of calm. The audacity of those two! And Caden, acting like I

ief were brewing. Groaning inwardly, I made my way upstairs, r

e, the girls were sitting on the floor, gleefully tossing handfuls of feathers int

pushing it now," I said, tr

he first to speak, in that overly sweet voice that made me feel

roject?" she asked, flutter

unconvinced. "Wha

I spotted the box in the corner. It was covered with

s out of the entire house aga

ent chills down my spine. "We're studying... gravity." She pulled a feather from t

ead. "You know what? Fine. We'll finish your '

ca protested. "It'

self. "I'll help you clean it up. After t

ith her usual charm. "Deal, but only if we can

"No feathers, no water. We'l

ght of causing a new kind of chaos. But for now, I had at least

ng up the feathers, I he

smile. I couldn't quite und

I'm leaving, sh

lips forming perfect l

sked, looking

traveling back to New York now," Mia

nodding. My st

turning sweet. "I will come back to visi

d closer to her, wrapping

r babysitter," Mia said, her voice pl

the scene

to myself under my breath. "How will I

al meltdown. Mia shot me one last look, a mix of

out to get a lot