Rocked (The Everyday Heroes World) - Julia Wolf Page 0,79
but I smiled at Ellie. “Hell yes she did. She always does, last night was just extra amazing.”
“That’s true. People say I look like her.” Ellie struck a pose, hip out, flinging her hair with her fingers. “Do you think?”
I ruffled the top of her head. “Maybe. Definitely your eyes and smile. Not your hair, though.”
She pointed to Rose. “I got that from my grandma. The red gene skipped over Mom and landed right on me.”
“I’d say you got pretty lucky.”
Rose had seemed familiar when I’d met her, and now I knew why. She and Kat shared a smile, and I saw Ellie in her too, clear as day. There was so much animosity between Kat and Rose, though, it was hard to believe they were mother and daughter.
“We should go,” Kat murmured, moving to pick up Ellie’s stacks of books.
My eyes connected with Rose’s, and she gave me a sad smile. “You’re blue today, baby. Blue can mean a lot, but yours means loyalty.” She circled the air near my heart. “You’ve got gray coming in. If you’re not careful, it’ll drown the blue out.”
Before I could ask what any of that meant, Ellie threw herself at Rose, curling her arms around her waist.
“Grandma, tell me what I am.”
Rose cupped Ellie’s cheeks, even as Kat rolled her eyes. “You’re so yellow, my love. You’re bright and happy, but that’s no surprise. You don’t need to be able to read auras to see that in you. Thanks for spending time with this old lady.”
“No prob. Thanks for all the books. Molly’s going to be so jealous of my Harlequin romances.”
I nudged her shoulder. “Hey, little sister, I thought those were being put away.”
“Yeah, on my bookshelf.”
“We’ll see.” Kat picked up Ellie’s bag. “Tell Grandma bye. We have to go home now.”
Ellie and Rose hugged fiercely, and Rose kissed her on the top of her head. “I love you, baby.”
Ellie grinned and stared down at her feet. “I love you too, Grandma.”
We trudged out, each of us heavy with our own burdens. Ellie would miss her grandmother, Kat was pissed at the world, and I had no idea where I fit into any of this.
If I hadn’t been their ride home, I figured Kat would have taken off with Ellie without so much as a backward glance. Instead, I drove them home, Ellie chattering away like she always did, Kat listening in silence in the front seat. When we got to their place, Ellie ran inside while I got Kat’s bag from my trunk.
I set it on the driveway at her feet and slipped my hand around the nape of her neck. “Are you all right?”
Her eyes slid to the ground. “Yes. No. I don’t know.” She rubbed her forehead again. “I can’t keep doing this with you, Devon. Not when my kid is on the line. I screwed up so bad, getting here late because I was with you. I’m losing my way here, and I can’t. I just can’t.”
I squeezed her neck, then let go. I was disappointed, but had known this was coming. It wasn’t a surprise, even though it stung like a slap to the face.
“I want to argue with you and tell you this isn’t your fault. That everything turned out fine. Ellie is safe, your mom didn’t hurt her, being late isn’t the end of the world...but I won’t. You don’t want to hear it, and I can’t even pretend to know what’s going on in your head.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “So, I’m gonna go back to my place and wish like hell being with me didn’t make you feel like you’re losing your way. Because hearing that shit cuts me deep, Lady, even though I already knew it.”
Her pretty lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but I shook my head.
“No need, Kat. No need. Go be with Ellie. Don’t worry about me.”
Ellie and Leroy were in my backyard two days later, Leroy rampaging and Ellie playing her guitar, determination creasing her little face.
“I’m not going to be good enough in time, am I?” She huffed, her shoulders dropping.
“Nah, little sis. You’re good enough now. I’m mad impressed. I can tell you’ve been practicing without me.” And that wasn’t blowing smoke. Ellie had true talent. All she’d needed was a nudge in the right direction and maybe a goal to work toward, and she’d push herself to get better. I hoped she hung onto that drive; it’d get