“Thanks to you, kiddo.”
“Are you gonna wear your jacket?”
“I was planning on it. Why?”
She giggles and I mentally brace myself. “There are sparkles all over it.”
“The gems stick to leather?”
“Yep!”
“That’s an unexpected twist.” I force a smile while mourning the innocence of my oldest companion. “What time is Uncle Dennis taking you to dinner?”
“I dunno.”
“Where’s your dad?”
Ronnie glances over at the window where the sun finishes its evening descent. “In the barn.”
My pulse leaps and takes off in a gallop. “I have to go. Can you go find Uncle Dennis? He’s downstairs in the den.”
She blinks at me. “No.”
I silently scold myself. Not sure why I asked. “Your dad will be done soon. It’s important that I leave before him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
She narrows her eyes. “What surprise?”
“Umm…” The flashy bling is muddling my mind. “We’re playing a game.”
Suspicion deepens the groove between her brows. “What kind of game?”
If I’m being honest, it’s where I disappear into the night without a trace to avoid another awkward exchange. We haven’t spoken much since that morning in the arena and that was days ago. I’d rather spend New Year’s Eve forgetting my troubles than inviting them to haunt me.
“Hide and seek,” I blurt.
“Daddy has to find you?” The little girl doesn’t sound convinced.
“Uh, yeah. That’s how it works.”
“Was it his idea?”
“Sure,” I mumble.
“That’s kinda romantic, I guess.”
My head is already rejecting that term with a stern shake. “It’s not meant to be.”
“Yes-huh, silly. You’re going on a date.”
It feels like all the blood drains from my face. “Did he tell you that?”
Ronnie’s face pinches. “I think so? But Uncle Dennis said it first. That’s why he’s babysitting me.”
Urgency kicks me into motion. I don’t know if she’s telling the truth, but I’m not sticking around to find out. Ronnie is seconds away from calling me out for lying. After shoving my phone in my purse, I’m ready to flee.