Ronan snorted. “I like the way you think. We’ll make sure to bring a gag. You have the tendency to be loud.”
Ten smacked Ronan’s shoulder. “Please, you’re the one old lady Hickenlooper heard moaning for God last summer. You scaredher so badly she thought someone was being killed and called the cops.” If Ten lived to be a hundred he’d never forget the sound of sirens breaking the silence of their little neighborhood. Or the way Ronan looked naked and bathed in the blue and white lights of the cop cars. Thankfully Ten managed to get him back in the house in time to answer the door when the police came knocking to ask if anyone in the house was hurt. It hadn’t taken Jude or Fitz long to figure out Ronan was the moaner mentioned in the 911 call.
“Daddy, come on, let’s get a move on. I gotta work on my tan!” Everly grabbed Ronan’s hand and tugged him toward the elevator.
Ten brought SPF 50 with him. He planned to slather it all over his daughter, like butter on a Thanksgiving turkey. Everly wasn’t going to get sunburned on his watch. Grabbing his bag, Ten wheeled it toward the elevator. He took a deep breath before stepping in, sure he was going to see a spirit waiting for him, but it was just Ronan and Everly, who both rolled their eyes at him.
“Sheesh, Dad, if you go any slower we’ll have to check out before we even get to see our room.” Everly rolled her eyes in a perfect imitation of Ronan.
Ten laughed. Maybe Cope was right and there were no spirits in the hotel. He was the first off the elevator when the bell dinged. He could hear Fitzgibbon’s outraged voice and Aurora’s laugh from down the hall. “What the heck is going on?”
“Uncle Fitz just found out that Aurora has a boyfriend.” Everly giggled and slapped her hands over her mouth.
“A boyfriend?” Ronan and Ten asked at the same time.
Everly grimaced at her fathers. “Yeah, it’s not a big deal, Daddies. Chill.”
Ronan hurriedly popped his keycard into the slot. The light turned green and he opened the door. He motioned for Ten and Everly to hurry into the room, which he shut and locked behind them.
Ten had never seen a more beautiful suite in his life. The living room was open and spacious. Large floor to ceiling windows offered an unobstructed view to the beach and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. He could see the bedrooms were on either side of the main room. According to what he read, each had its own bathroom, so that when the girls had their sleepover tonight, he and Ronan wouldn’t be up all night listening to them laugh together.
“You can look around the room later.” Ronan grabbed Ten’s hand and dragged him to the sofa. “Okay, girl, spill! Don’t leave out a single detail.”
Everly grinned. “Well, Aurora met Jack at the fun run a few weeks back. When we were in the cooling-off tent, Jack was there with his father. Remember how we all were doused in pink powder just before we crossed the finish line? Well, Jack saw that happen and brought Aurora wet wipes, a bottle of water, and a package of cookies. It was love at first sight!” Everly made a swooning sound. “Their song is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. Isn’t that romantic?”
“Absolutely!” Ronan agreed.
Ten shot Ronan a questioning look. It took him a moment to realize Ronan’s excitement had to do with the fact that Everlyhadn’tfound herself a similar love story. “Who is this boy? Do we know him?”
Everly nodded. “Yup. He was in Miss Johnson’s second grade class last year.”
“Oh, so he’s an older man?” Ronan gasped, obviously loving every second of dishing gossip with his daughter.
“He’s really mature, Daddy. He’s gonna be eight in October. Aurora says his best friend, Jerry, thinks I’m cute! We’re gonna go on a double date!” Everly bounced off the sofa and pecked Ronan’s cheek. “I gotta go unpack. Me and Aurora are gonna FaceTime with the boys at four. Byeeee!”
Before Ten could stop her, the bedroom door shut and Taylor Swift’s music filled the suite.
“There’s no way in hell a daughter of mine is going out with a boy named Jerry!” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest.
Ten snorted and tried to cover it with a cough when Ronan shot him an outraged look. “So you’d be okay if the boy’s name was Skyler or Wyatt?”
“Fuck no!” Ronan half-shouted. “Boys only want one thing. I’ll be damned if my daughter is the one to give it to them.”
“Ronan,” Ten said slowly. “They’reeight years old. Jerry doesn’t want what you think he wants.”
“Of course he does!” Ronan insisted.
“What is it youthinkan eight year old boy wants with Everly?” Ten bit his cheek to keep from laughing. He couldn’t wait to hear what idiotic thing Ronan came out with.
“Friendship bracelets!” Ronan shook his head. “Don’t you readPeoplemagazine?” Not bothering to wait for an answer, Ronan plowed on. “All these Swifties make bracelets and hand them out to each other. The boy with the most bracelets wins!”
Ten started to giggle. “What does the boy with the most bracelets win?”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” Ronan got up from the sofa and grabbed his bag. “If Everly starts making friendship bracelets for Jerry, it’s all over! She won’t be my little girl anymore, she’ll be his!”
Ten was laughing too hard to respond at first. Ronan stood there, tapping his foot, waiting for Ten to recover enough to speak again. “Ronan, Everly issevenyears old. She’s not going to run off and elope with this kid. I mean, how far could they get on his two-wheeler and her twenty dollar allowance?”
Ronan burst out laughing. He leaned on the handle of his suitcase and cackled harder. Ten joined in.
