Wrecked Palace (Wrecked, #3)

by Catherine Cowles

“Come and get it, tiny terrors,” I called from the kitchen. Will appeared, shaking his head. “You know I’m not actually tiny anymore, right?” I clutched at my chest in an overdramatic move. “Don’t remind me. You’re forever eight in my mind.”

“No weirder than your fake sugar, fake hazelnut, fake milk coffee concoctions. How is that decaf treating you these days?” Kenna pointed her fork in my direction. “That is cruel and uncalled for.”

his basket and frowned. A stack of frozen meals—like always. “You really should mix in some fresh produce with those.” He grunted. “Been eating the same thing for years, haven’t died yet.”

“And it doesn’t hurt that you want to climb him like a tree.”

Have you finally given in to trying one of my salads?” I gave my head a shake. “I think I’ll stick with the sandwich.” Walters grinned. “I don’t know, Caelyn can make kale pretty tasty.” I didn’t try to fight the twisting of my face. “No, thank you.”

Her gaze caught on me. “Whoa. Are you a giant?”

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Caelyn started, putting a hand over her heart. “I do believe you laughed, Griffin Lockwood. Who knew all it took was a seven-year-old singing about germs?”

Will stared Griffin down as if challenging him to find it odd for a sixteen-year-old boy to wear a rainbow friendship bracelet.

“Brown Eyes, you’re always hungry these days.” Her gaze narrowed on him. “Are you saying I’m eating too much?” Crosby straightened, holding up both hands in surrender. “No way. I think you’re perfect.” Ford chuckled. “Retreat now, man. You’re fucked.”

endless list of things constantly swirling around in my mind. An increase in rent, Mia’s gymnastics, whether I should take Ava to another therapist, how I was going to pay for Will’s college in a year and a half…

“Corn, I guess.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “Corn barely counts as a vegetable.” Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a vegetable.”

“Twenty-five hundred a week? Griffin, that’s insane.” “You want three?” “Did you get hit on the head by something while you were working on your house? That is way too much money.”

“He probably just wants in your pants.” “Why would Mr. Griffin want your pants? He wouldn’t fit in them. He’s a giant,” Mia offered helpfully.

“Such a good big brother. Even played dolls with me when I begged.” “Hey. You promised never to bring that up. It’s our secret.” Beth blinked against the sun. “I don’t think the fish are going to tell.”

What was with the fascination with other people’s pain? Did it make someone feel better about their own lives to focus on others’ tragedies? Or was it simply the car-wreck phenomenon—people couldn’t help but watch and stare?

“We’re going to visit the giant?”

“I made this for you. It’s an apology drawing. Sorry if I called you a giant, and it hurt your feelings. But I still think you’re a giant and you have magic. But that’s cool. You should be proud of that. Cae Cae always tells me that it’s the things that are different about us that are the most special.”

“Don’t cry now,” Will whispered. “I can’t help it. It’s so freaking sweet.” Will shook his head and looked heavenward. “You need to get plugs in your tear ducts or something.”

“Don’t even try to understand it. She cries at the drop of a hat. The other night, she was full-on sobbing at a humane society commercial.” I turned to Will. “That song gets me every time.” Griffin let out a choked laugh. “She has a point there.”

“I can paint.” I rubbed at my temples. If Mia helped paint, Griffin’s house would look like a rainbow-colored Pollock painting.

At three feet away, the girl launched herself at me. The move took me by surprise, and I hurried to catch her, resting her on my hip. “You taking flying lessons now, too?”

“Because I’m an evil heifer. Or because you cry at the drop of a hat.”

“If you don’t leave on the count of three, I’m going to bean you with this basket.

“Did I just threaten her with my muffin basket?” A grin split my face. “Honey, you scared the crap out of her with that basket.”

Our justice system was beyond broken. The people who deserved the harshest sentences often got a break, and those who deserved a second chance often paid for way longer than they should.

“And Mr. Walters will be here to help you close up.” Molly chuckled. “Yes, Mom. And I promise, I won’t have any boys over.”

She let out a little squeak. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. When I’m nervous, I ramble. And this note has me really freaking nervous. I’m just gonna shut up now.” Caelyn clamped her mouth closed as her cheeks reddened.

“I’ve been called a lot of things on the job, but I’m not sure Sheriff Hotstuff is one of them.” Caelyn covered her face with her hands. “I’m never going to live this down.”

“Get in, smartass.” “Ooooooh, three words. Maybe all isn’t lost.”

Mia was dancing around, Ava had her nose in a book,

“Miss Shepard, this is my giant, Griffin. He has magic.” Miss Shepard’s eyes twinkled as she smiled at Mia. “You were lucky to find him then, weren’t you?” She nodded enthusiastically. “The luckiest.”

“You might have a whole new reputation around town now.” Griffin looked up as if praying for patience. “Heaven help me.” “I’ll help you, Griffin,” Mia offered. “What do you need?”

“Oh, man, it’s so good to have an adult on the side of a good junk binge.” Caelyn’s eyes narrowed on Will in a mock glare. “You know, I’ve been kindly ignoring your stockpile in the garage. But I could get the sudden urge to do a little spring cleaning…”

I’d already been wondering what the chances were of me getting arrested if I slept in my truck outside the O’Connors’ house.

As dawn crept in, I groaned and rolled over. When I did, I jerked back, my heart hammering in my chest. A grinning face met me, just inches from mine. Mia’s little legs swung back and forth as she sat on the coffee table. “I was waiting for you to wake up. Want to do gymnastics with me?”

Will snorted. “How are your splits coming along, Griffin?” Griffin gave Will a wan smile. “Better than yours, I bet.” Will arched a brow. “We might just have to put that to the test.”

My eyes burned and began filling with tears. Will groaned. “Seriously? You’re crying at that?”

I’d tried hard to instill the belief in my siblings that no feeling was bad or wrong. And neither was expressing those feelings, as long as you weren’t hurting someone else.

“Everybody has hurts sometimes. But they don’t last forever.”

“You learned how to do a cartwheel?” He chuckled. “It wasn’t pretty.” “You’ll get better,” Mia offered.

“For the love of triple fudge ice cream.” I

Not another veggie-phobic, at least.

And I’m worried she’s going to start doubling my vegetable intake as one of them.”

“Hey, now. I reheat the food you make me, and sometimes I do that in the oven.” I held up both hands in surrender. “What was I thinking? You’re a master chef.” “Thank you. I appreciate you acknowledging my reheating prowess.”

Mia ran towards the vehicle. Will caught her by the strap of her backpack and whispered something in her ear. She scowled at him

“That’s your rainbow. So you’re a part of our family, and you never have to leave.”

It was Ava’s gaze that met mine in the rearview mirror. “It looks like you belong with us.”

“Lost your phone again?” Callie let out a huff. “It runs away from me, I swear.”

“How good is your memory?” My brows drew together. “Like can I remember what year JFK was assassinated or can I remember where I left my car keys?”

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “Oh, boy. What now?” Will asked as he looked at me incredulously. “How in the world can you be getting teary about history class?”