checked his watch. “Three minutes. I need you to go brush your teeth and get your purse. Zip it up. Put it on your shoulder. I’ll be waiting here.”
“But Cousin Colt is—”
Lamont put his hand gently on Frieda’s arm, then turned back to Colt. “Work calls. Mel’s waiting for you upstairs. Catch you on the flip side?”
Colt nodded, watching as Lamont gently ushered Frieda toward her apartment, where he’d redirect her to brush her teeth and gather her belongings together for a day at work. He turned back to Verity, watching her hawkishly as she followed Lamont and Frieda with her eyes. Finally she looked up at him.
“This isn’t what I expected.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“It’s so . . . loving. It’s normal. Like, not normal, but, you know, safe. And nice.”
“Nice places do exist, Verity.”
She still seemed uncertain when she asked, “Can I meet Melody?”
“Come on.”
They walked up the stairs, and Colt turned left, stopping in front of Melody’s apartment. “Ready?”
For the first time since arriving at Bonnie’s Place, Verity smiled at him. A real smile, boundless and warm. “I am.”
Because Mel would be awake, he didn’t use his keycard—he knocked, and, as though she’d been waiting right behind the door (which was probably true), Melody whipped open the door, her face split into a beaming smile.
“C-C-C-Colton! It’s zoo day!” She reached for his waist, wrapping her freckled arms around him.
Colt grinned down at his cousin’s strawberry-blonde head, wrapping one arm around her and still holding Verity’s hand in his. “Sure is!”
Mel leaned back, clicking her teeth together with excitement as she spied Verity. “Who are you?”
“Verity,” she said, dropping Colt’s hand and offering it to Mel.
Melody looked up at Colt.
“She’s a friend, Mel. A really special friend,” he explained.
And just as he’d known she would, Melody completely ignored Verity’s outstretched hand and threw her arms around Verity’s waist too.
What he didn’t know—what he hadn’t known in so long, it took his actual breath away—was the sort of happiness he felt watching his cousin hug his girlfriend. And when Verity looked up at him over Mel’s head and smiled?
Fuck if he didn’t have to turn away.
His fucking eyes were burning.
CHAPTER 13
All things considered, thought Verity after they’d dropped off Melody at Bonnie’s Place at six o’clock that evening, the day went very well.
Yes, Ryan had gotten a little too excited about his Dippin’ Dots ice cream and dropped the cup on the ground, sending the small balls scattering. But Colton simply bought him a second cup and told him not to worry about the lost one, which banished the tears from his eyes.
And yes, Melody had gotten her period soon after arriving at the zoo and refused to come out of the bathroom stall for a good ten minutes. Thankfully, after some gentle coaxing, she finally confessed to Verity what had happened. Verity bought her a maxi pad from the bathroom dispenser and helped her get cleaned up, earning her a giant hug and an even huger smile.
After visiting the monkeys, but before lunch, they stopped for a water break, and Colton decided to broach the subject of him and Verity dating.
“So, guys,” he started, handing out four bottles of water, “Verity and I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Something nice?” asked Melody, grinning up at him.
“I think so,” he said.
“Colton takes care of us,” said Ryan.
“He’s my c-c-c-cousin,” said Melody possessively, clicking her teeth together.
Colton scowled. “Mel, I’ll always be your cousin. But I can look after you and still have time for Ryan too.”
“Okay,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I like Ryan. He c-c-c-can be your c-c-c-cousin too. G-g-g-good talk.”
“No, he’s not my . . .” Colton pursed his lips and furrowed his brows at her. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about.”
“Artie sprays people,” announced Ryan.
“Who’s Artie?” asked Melody.
“The French knight. Want to meet Éclair sometime?”
“No, Ryan,” said Colton. “No Éclair, remember?”
“Wait, what?” asked Verity. “What do you mean, ‘Artie sprays people’?”
“With the hose,” said Ryan. “And it stings.”
“They hook up the hose to the Slip’N Slide,” offered Melody helpfully.
“What’s a slide’n slide?” asked Ryan.
“Did Artie spray you with a hose, Ry?” asked Verity, stepping closer to her brother.
“It’s a yellow plastic rug that sprays water. And you slide on it.”
“Prickly water?”
“Nope,” said Melody. “Soft water. C-C-C-Colton? C-c-c-can Ryan c-c-c-come for Slip’N Slide day?”
“Did you know about Artie and the hose?” Verity asked Colton.
“Yes, but I didn’t want you to worry,” he said.
“You should c-c-c-come to Slip’N Slide day,” said Melody to Ryan. “Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Colton! You