Chapter 2 #3
“So this is your daughter.” I turn to look at the girl properly for the first time.
She’s wiry and quick-looking, all coiled energy even standing still, dark hair scraped up into a high ponytail that’s come loose at the sides.
Ten, maybe. She’s got her mother’s coloring, the same brown eyes, though there’s a stubborn set to her jaw that’s purely her own.
She meets my look head-on, unafraid, sizing me up the same way her mother did on that dark road.
A scrape on her knee, grass stains on both shins. A kid who plays hard.
Something in my chest pulls tight, low and strange, and my wolf lifts its head the way it did in that car. I don’t understand it. She’s a stranger’s child, Bella’s new friend, nothing to me. I tell the animal as much. It doesn’t settle.
“Yes.” Jessa is already half-turned, gathering her girl in. “We have somewhere to be. It was nice to meet you.”
I step into her path. “Let the girls finish their ice cream.”
She stiffens, and then her daughter chimes in. “You said we could stay for an hour.”
Jessa looks like she is barely holding herself together. Jaw tense, she looks down at her daughter, and I take advantage of the moment and crouch to Bella’s level. “Take your friend to play. Be careful on those swings this time.”
The two of them gulp their cones and tear off before either adult can change their mind. I drop onto the nearest bench. After a moment, stiff and reluctant, Jessa sits too, leaving a careful foot of space between us.
I lean forward, forearms on my thighs, and watch the girls.
Jessa holds herself rigid, braced for something.
I don’t know why I rattle her this badly, and I’d be lying if I said the question didn’t interest me.
What interests me more is my own reaction to her.
My wolf has come fully awake beside her, restless, preening, wanting to be noticed.
I have to bite down on a smile. I’ve never in my life had to talk my own instincts out of showing off for a woman.
“So how long are you in town for?” I ask mildly, just to make conversation.
“I’m not sure.” She keeps her eyes on the girls.
I glance at her, confused. “Didn’t you just move here?”
“I did.” Her jaw tightens. “I’m starting to think it was a mistake. We may go back.”
Go back. Something in me objects to that, fast and unreasonable, though I couldn’t say why. The set of her shoulders, her refusal to look at me, tells me there’s a whole story she isn’t saying.
“That’s the first friend Bella’s made here,” I offer. “My niece doesn’t take to people easily. It’s good to see her laugh like this.”
That earns me a glance. “Bella’s your niece?” Her brow knits. “I thought she was your daughter.”
“No. My niece. Her parents died when she was a baby. I’ve raised her since.”
Jessa says nothing.
I watch her a beat, then lift a brow. “You look annoyed.”
“No.” It comes too quick. “Why would I be annoyed? It’s a good thing you did. A noble thing.”
Then why does she sound upset by it?
“It’s why I retired.” I shrug, watching her reaction. “I wanted her to come first.”
A flash of pain crosses her face, and she looks away, her voice hoarse, “I see.”
I want to keep her talking, the sound of her voice calming me despite her attitude. But she’s already shifting forward on the bench, already done.
“We need to go.” She rises. “I have to cancel an enrollment tomorrow.”
“Enrollment in what?”
“Crestline Soccer Academy.” She brushes off her coat. “My daughter got a scholarship there. It’s why we came. But we won’t settle here, so I’m pulling her out.”
I keep my face easy and lean back on the bench, taking my time. “Your daughter won a scholarship to Crestline?”
“Yes.”
“That’s very impressive. It’s an invite only institute.”
“I know that,” she mutters.
“They grant a full scholarship till college.” I hold her eyes. “Why throw it away? Give the place a chance. It’s not such a bad town.”
“I have my reasons.” She turns from me and calls across the green. “Mia. We’re leaving.”
Mia.
The girl jogs over, cone gone, cheeks flushed. “Can’t I stay a little longer? Please? Mom!”
“No.” Sharp, final. “We have to go.” But she softens the second she crouches to Bella, tucking a loose tendril back from the girl’s face. “It was lovely to meet you, sweetheart. Say goodbye.”
Bella shuffles her feet, gone shy. “Will you come here next Sunday? We could play together.”
“Okay.” Mia nods, quick and sure, and the two of them throw their arms around each other like they’ve known one another for years.
Then she’s gone, my newest acquaintance towing her daughter toward the gate without a backward glance.
Bella bounces over to me, beaming. “See? See, I made a friend!”
“You’ll be seeing a lot of her.” I keep watching the two figures shrink toward the street.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s about to be your new classmate.”
Because the girl I signed off on for a full scholarship, the one starting at Crestline Monday morning, was named Mia. Mia Vasquez.
I huff out a laugh and shake my head.
Monday is going to be very interesting.