“What’s that?” Kimmie frowns.
“Particle Man.” Garrett holds out a fist for Edward to bump. “I’m supposed to give you a ride to Miss Gina’s. I heard she has more kittens.”
“I want to help with Miss Gina’s kittens, too!” Kimmie cries, and her uncle gooses her with his elbow.
“You’re breaking my eardrum, Peanut.” Reaching around, he pulls her off his back and sits her on the metal work table.
She hops off the table at once, following Edward to put the cat outside. “Uncle Grizz said I can help you with the kittens!”
They continue out the back door, and Garrett leans closer to me, lowering his voice. “Heard anything new?”
“Not a peep.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together.
We’re doing our best to keep the situation with Rip under wraps around the kids. I don’t want to scare the littles, and Idon’t want to get in Austin’s head right now, in the middle of summer camp with Jack picking his starting lineup.
“Like I said, he’s breaking parole if he leaves the state.” Garrett watches as I finish preparing the sandwiches and pop them into the broiler. “If he shows up here, I’ll be glad to arrest him and ship him right back to Angola.”
“Liv can help you get a restraining order,” Dylan adds.
Garrett’s wife Liv is a lawyer.
“You could get a restraining order all by yourself,” Garrett notes, “but it might alert him to your location.”
“I’ve done everything I can to stay off social media and keep a low profile. I’m praying if we do that, he won’t know where we are.” Hugging my arms over my body, I lean against the refrigerator. “The few friends I have in New Orleans know not to say anything, and we didn’t leave a forwarding address.”
“You should move into the house with Logan and me.” Dylan walks over to wrap her arms around my waist, over my arms. “You could have the entire upstairs floor, and Logan will be there if anything happens.”
I give her a squeeze. “What would I tell Austin?” Shaking my head, I step out of her embrace. “It’s better if we stay where we are. We’re not too far from everyone, and I have a house alarm.”
Dylan’s lips twist, but she doesn’t pressure me. Instead, she taps my arm with her finger. “You haven’t told me your favorite movie for girls’ night yet.”
“Party Girl, of course.”
My friend’s brow furrows. “Why of course?”
“Because she wants to be a librarian, she spends all night learning the Dewey Decimal System… Although, we’re not really using that anymore—Melville Dewey was kind of a jerk.”
“Gah, weren’t they all?” Dylan laughs. “What are you using now?”
“Library of Congress system. It has more categories.”
“Have you ordered your glasses yet?” She leans on her forearms on the table, waggling her eyebrows.
“You’re wearing glasses?” Garrett returns from chatting with Thomas, munching on a handful of french fries.
“No.” I cut my eyes at her.
“I’m confused.” Garrett frowns at his sister.
“I was just saying, as a librarian, Allie should wear glasses.” She gives him a wink.
Garrett picks up on what she’s saying at once. “Riiight… so you can take them off.” He gives me a teasing grin. “And let your hair down. I know someone who’d be into that.”
“We just have to figure out a way to lure Coach Jack to the library after hours,” Dylan adds, and I’m on my way to the back door.
“Flip the grilled cheeses. If you’re taking Kimmie with you, I’m headed home—see you tomorrow.”
“Allieee,” Dylan cries after me. “Don’t leave. I’m only teasing!”
