Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

Suddenly someone from a nearby booth wanders our way, hovering right
near Ren. I see Ren’s open expression shutter, his polite smile take over as he
turns, shielding Ziggy behind his body.
“Sorry to bug you…” the guy says.
Why do people say sorry when they’re doing something and they’re going to
keep doing it? Either demonstrate genuine remorse and stop doing it, or just own
that you’re being an invasive prick, bugging a professional hockey player for a
signature at nine thirty on a weeknight, when he’s just out for a quiet bite to eat.
“What’s up, man?” Ren says.
“Just wondering if—”
I lift my cane, arced over my head like a wand, and say, “Sectumsempra!”
“Jesus!” The guy stumbles back, knocking into a chair and running back to
his booth. I give him a death glare, until he sinks out of sight.
Ziggy slaps a hand over her mouth, making her voice come out muffled.
“That was awesome.”
Ren peers down at me. “Little aggressive of a curse, right out of the gate,
don’t you think, Francesca?”
Annie shakes her head. “You don’t know the half of it. When she and Tim
get drunk, she calls Imperio and he follows her orders. It’s like sick, twisted,
Pottermore charades.”
If she weren’t 300 weeks pregnant, I’d kick her under the table. “That’s
private, Annabelle.”
She waves me off. “Well, now that we lost the fan, why don’t you join us?”
Annie says to Ren.
Ziggy opens her mouth, but before she can answer, Ren squeezes her
shoulder gently. “That’s okay. We wouldn’t want to encroach on your catch-up,”
he says. “And I haven’t seen this one in a while. She’s overdue for a big brother
inquisition.”
Ziggy rolls her eyes. It makes me smile. And it also makes my heart flip-flop
that Ren’s protecting time with his sister.
“Hang in there,” I tell her. “As the baby of the family with a bossy older
sibling, you have my sympathy.”
“Hey.” Ren shoves me gently, and I milk it, flopping over to the bench.
“Shit, Frankie.” He wraps his arms around my shoulder, hoists me upright. “I’m
so sorry, I’m—”
His features change when he sees I’m trying not to laugh and realizes I’m
fine. He narrows his eyes. “That’s a dirty move.”
“I thought it was pretty funny,” Ziggy says drily.
“Yes, well.” Ren straightens and gives me a half-hearted glare. “We’ll leave