The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories by Heidi McLaughlin, Wendy Owens, Kimberly Knight, Brina Courtney, Raine Thomas, Bethany Lopez, A. O. Peart, Amanda Aksel, Felicia Tatum, Amanda Lance

corner in her mourning. Not that she needs to be rushed, but I miss my little girl.
    “Mommy, I’m tired.” Elle pulls on my t-shirt to get my attention. We’re in one of the many gift shops looking at souvenirs. It’s also a great place to cool down from the beating sun.
    “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?”
    “No, can you carry me?”
    “Elle, there’s no way I can carry you. You’re too big.”
    Elle leans against me, grinding her face into my side. This is typical Elle – she’s the child that loves to nap – whereas, Peyton can go all day. I play with her ponytail, contemplating what to do with her. I don’t want to ruin her day, but carrying her is out of the question.
    “Excuse me, where can I rent a wagon?” I ask the clerk behind the counter.
    “What do you need a wagon for?” I turn to find Harrison behind me. He gazes down at me. His eyes are soft and forgiving, showing no mention of our earlier conversation.
    “Elle’s tired. I can’t carry her, so I need something to put her in or we need to go back to the hotel.”
    Harrison nods. He bends over and says something to Elle before he picks her up from behind and places her on his shoulder. Her face beams as she steadies herself.
    “We won’t be needing the wagon,” he says to the clerk who shrugs. I stand there stone-faced as he walks out of the store, ducking when they get to the entrance, with my baby on his shoulders.
    “Hey, is that Harrison James?”
    “No,” I say as I leave.
    “Harrison?” he stops and faces me. His sunglasses are covering his eyes again and it makes me wonder if Elle did that for him. “You don’t have to carry her, she can walk.”
    Harrison looks up at Elle while she looks down at him. They smile at each other as if they are sharing their own secrets. “Princess Elle, I’m your Henchman, what say you?”
    I smile and laugh at the way Harrison is talking to her.
    “Take me to my palace and I shall feed you for the night,” Elle says in her princess voice. Good lord, he fell right into her game.
    “We’re good, Queen Katelyn.” Harrison winks as they walk off. He starts to gallop, giving us all the sound of laughter. I seek out Peyton, wondering if she’s jealous. If she is, she’s not showing it. Between Jimmy and Liam, I think they have her missing piece filled nicely as well.
    “Looks like I’m by myself,” I say to no one.
    “I’ll walk with you.”
    Next to me is mini-Harrison, just a bit cuter.
    “Thanks, Quinn.”
    “It’s okay.”
    We catch up with the henchman and his princess just in time for my stomach to growl.
    “Harrison, are you ready for lunch?” I stop dead in my tracks when the words are out of my mouth. I try to look away, but I can’t. He’s trying not to smile, but to no avail. There’s no use in trying to play it off as something as innocent as lunch, he’s caught the meaning. I don’t want him thinking that I’m even remotely close to taking a step with him because I’m not. It’s lunch. Nothing more.
    “There’s a restaurant on the other side of the palace. We can go there.”
    “I’ll tell the others and meet you there.”
    Harrison nods and tells Quinn to go with him. I watch as he walks away with Elle on his shoulders and his son holding his hand like this is something they do every day. He didn’t think twice about helping Elle and that scares me. I don’t want her attached to someone who isn’t going to be around later. It’s not good for her and it’s definitely not good for Peyton. They need stability.
    I let everyone know where we are going and they all agree to meet us there. Peyton and I walk hand in hand through the Palace toward the restaurant.
    “Are you having fun?” I ask, hoping for the best.
    “I am.”
    “Yeah, Quinn’s been here before. It’s nice to hang out with someone who knows their way around, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah. Can we come back again some day?”
    “Of course. I like it here. It’s magical.”
    Peyton