"Maeve!"
Marcie squealed again, voice high and bubbling with joy as she burrowed against me. She shoved at the bags dangling from my arms until they nearly toppled, squirming through them like they were obstacles in some ridiculous cuddle maze. "I've missed you so much!"
I laughed despite the sting in my chest. "It's been less than two months, Marcie."
"Even still," she corrected, dramatic as always, her big brown eyes lifting to me before sliding slyly toward Lucian. She tilted her head, assessing him with the blunt honesty only a ten-year-old could get away with. "He's cute." She looked back at me with absolute sincerity. "Can we keep him?"
Heat shot up my neck. "Marcie!"
Lucian coughed into his fist, the faintest hitch in his composure. Oh? His ears were red.
Behind us, Freya was nearly doubled over with laughter, barely managing to keep hold of her teddy bear. "Oh my God. I love her already."
