6. Phoenix
6
PHOENIX
“ U ncle Phoenix!” Navy yells as she sprints into Cora’s house without removing her shoes or coat and launches herself into my arms. My four-year-old niece is my whole world, and it’s not just because she’s related to me or that she lost her father.
It’s not even that I spent an hour meticulously setting up her elf scene that she called me screaming about this morning.
Navy is just one of those kids that resonates with you. She’s sweet and charming, sassy, and exudes a vibrance you want to be swept up in.
“Where’s my hug?” Talon pokes good-naturedly, making her squirm in my arms. I hold her tighter and shift my body.
“Wait your turn,” I sniff. Talon chuckles and Navy giggles before placing a kiss on my cheek. Her cheeks are pink with the chill of the December night, her blonde curls falling haphazardly around her face. She looks angelic, and I squeeze her once more before setting her back on her feet.
She runs over to Talon and repeats the process, ignoring my sister’s pleas for her to take off her stuff so she doesn’t track anything inside.
I’m just about to razz my sister about lightening up when there’s a quick knock on the door before it’s pushed open and my heart plummets to the floor. I shouldn’t have this reaction to her still, like the first drop on a roller coaster, but here we are.
Aspen steps inside, her gaze glancing over me before settling on Bristol and Navy. There’s relief in the way her shoulders relax, and I hate that I’m not the one to do it.
The contradiction makes me want to break things with my bare hands.
It’s stupid and I need to grow up and get over myself.
Blowing out a breath, I close the distance and take her jacket and purse from her, hanging them on the hook. She’s puzzled and I can’t blame her.
“Thank you?” she says, the intonation of her voice turning it into a question. She searches my face, and I try my best to keep my expression at something slightly more amicable than neutral.
“Sure,” I respond belatedly, moving back awkwardly to let her into the kitchen where Talon, Cora, Bristol, and Navy are all watching us. And because I’m already going to get shit from my brother, I add, “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” she asks, amused as she crosses her arms over her chest, her phone in one hand as she waits for me to answer.
“So we can talk about the event and you won’t have to waste time that day explaining things to me.”
The room is still silent as everyone waits for Aspen to make the next move. It’s telling that this is the most entertainment anyone’s had today, and if I was smarter, I probably would have waited instead of bombarding her in the doorway.
Still, I do my best not to shift my weight from side to side as she unlocks her phone and hands it to me. Typing in my number sends a thrill through me that I try like hell to ignore as I send myself a text before handing it back to her.
Her lips quirk up on one side, and her green eyes sparkle with the kind of mischief that would be my undoing.
Tension buzzes between us, and I want so badly to act on it—to say something to make her laugh and lean in close, wrap my arm around her and…
Ding dong!
“Pizza!” Navy yells and everyone chuckles, the moment lost to cheese and pepperoni. Aspen gives me a small smile, moving around me and into the kitchen, putting some much-needed space between us.