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Don’t you want a different story?”
    She shook her long, bright locks. It was pretty obvious why she liked this story so much. “This one!”
    I tugged her hair. “I bet your hair is long enough to climb up. Wanna try?”
    She giggled, shaking her head. “You’re so silly, Syd.” She picked up the oversized book and turned it page-by-page back to the beginning, careful not to drop the cookie she was holding in her left hand. I wasn’t sure how many she’d eaten, but it was probably more than her mom had authorized. I knew the peanut butter kiss cookies were her favorite, so I tried to make them a lot. I started the story over again, reading until her mom came to take her to bed.
    “She’s had some cookies,” I warned. Her mom, Patti, laughed and nodded as she walked away.
I stood, rubbing my eyes. The end of my law school prep class had kicked my butt, hard. It had been a long week, and I was looking forward to my bed. “You’re good with her,” Charlie said. Charlie had been with CARE for a long time. He’d come here originally for help while his wife was going through chemo. Charlie had been so moved by the love and support of the people at CARE during his stay that he’d started working with the organization, and had been their executive director for the past five years. I admired him, and his strength. Working at a place like CARE was an emotional rollercoaster. One day you’d get to celebrate a triumph, and the next, mourn a tragedy.
    I stretched my arms above me, letting my muscles loosen. “She’s easy to entertain.”
    “Well, we appreciate all you do to help out.”
I looked around at the toys, couches, and TV. The home-away-from home for everyone CARE helped. “It means a lot to me.”
    He patted me on the back. “I know.”
    “The construction seems to be going well.” CARE was adding on to the house so they could accommodate more temporary residents.
    Charlie nodded, looking toward the back of the house where the construction was taking place. “It should be done in the next couple of months.”
    “I’m glad you’ll be able to help more people with the addition.”
    “Me, too.”
    Brynn came up to me, her purse hanging from her shoulder. “The cookies are gone and the kids probably won’t sleep tonight. Our job is done.”
    Charlie laughed. “We’ll see you girls soon.”
    “Have a good night,” I said.
    “You, too.”
    Brynn and I walked out to the car and I went home to fall into bed, and hopefully some dreams starring a sexy mechanic.

 
     
     
     
     

     
     
    Few things were more annoying than car problems. With a car like She-Ra, I was used to the unexpected. But a car problem that required me to change my tire at seven in the morning in heels before my first class on my first day of law school was even more annoying than my usual car issues. My hands were covered in mud and dirt by the time I was done, but my jeans, button-up lilac colored shirt, and black blazer were fine. I said a silent thanks to my dad for teaching me how to change a tire in less than ten minutes, and rushed out the door to my class. I was frazzled, but made it through the first day without getting an ulcer—at least, as far as I could tell. Part of that was because of my friend, Cade. He’d been in my law school prep class over the summer, and we’d helped each other on a few assignments. When I got to school this morning, I was happy to see we had some classes together. We’d made plans to get together and study later in the week.
    When school was done for the day, I checked my hair, makeup, and did a quick assessment of my ass in my jeans. Finding all of the above acceptable, I was ready to take She-Ra and my spare to Red’s to get the tire fixed. If I happened to see a hot, blue eyed mechanic while I was there, I was totally prepared. Okay, not really. Every time I saw him, my stomach contorted into shapes reserved for circus performers, but I was as prepared as possible.
    “Hey, Red,”