Free Snack by Emme Burton Page A

bathroom. “Sorry about that.”
    “Well, a man’s gotta have a place to go.” Snack kisses Wookiee on the snout and places him gently on the floor. “Right, buddy.” My heart puddles on the floor. Snack is being affectionate with Wook and Wook is letting him. Why can’t it be that way with Henry? Henry. I admit to myself, I haven’t thought about him much since I got back to Downers Grove.
    I shiver. This loft is beautiful, but cold. Not cold as in uninviting, but really freezing cold. My brain pushes my manners aside and I bark out, “Fuck, it’s fucking cold up here.”
    Snack snorts. “Never one to underuse the fuck word, huh, Min.”
    It’s my turn to laugh. Snack just alluded to an old Cooper family joke.
    I stand outside the bathroom door, screaming at my little brother once again. “Sid, jeez, get out of the fucking bathroom. I need to get ready for school. Snack’s waiting.”
    “Wilhelmina Jane, don’t say the fuck word!” Dad yells from down the hall as he comes toward me.
    “You mean, don’t say the F-word, don’t you, Dad?”
    “Fuck! Yes! I mean don’t use the F-word. It doesn’t sound nice.”
    Dad and I smile to stifle our mutual laughs, but they quickly overcome us.
    Dad winks at me and bangs on the bathroom door. “Sid, get out of the fucking bathroom! Your sister needs to do her fucking girl stuff.”
    “Nice use of the fuck word, Dad.”
    “That’s enough out of you, Min.”
    Snack’s next words shake me from my memory.
    “You’re right. It’s pretty darn cold up here.”
    Pretty darn cold? What is he? A monk? It is sort of adorable that he isn’t naturally profane. Unlike me.
    Snack moves toward the large stone fireplace that wraps around the angled wall from the living space, so it’s also partially in the bedroom space. “I’ll start a fire. You want to turn up the thermostat? It’s on the wall near the top of the stairs.”
    I go over and push the heat level up. Still shivering, I cross my arms and rub my hands up and down them. I stomp my feet, too.
    Snack squats and places a couple of logs in the fireplace. He turns and smiles at me. “Frozen?”
    “Almost.” I respond through nearly chattering teeth.
    “We don’t run the heat up here all the time since there isn’t anyone up here all day.” Snack lights a match and tosses it under the balled-up newspaper. Of course, it lights right away. It’s Snack. Perfect, Eagle-fucking-Scout Snack.
    I watch his shoulders and back move as he attends to the area around the hearth. I know what’s under that gray sweater. Snack’s muscular torso. Just imagining it makes me exhale quietly to myself. I scold myself yet again for thinking about him like that when I know he’s still grieving his wife.
    Snack stands, wipes his hands of his chore with satisfaction, and then turns and strides over to me. He stands about one foot away. “Get in bed.”
    What? I feel my entire body flush. Get in bed? With Snack?
    My expression must telegraph my confusion—if not my delight at his order—because Snack chuckles. “Yes, take your shoes off, but leave your clothes on and get in bed. You’ll be warmer. And I know you’re tired.”
    Wookiee wastes no time following Snack’s orders. He has already made his way up onto the bed and barks his agreement with Snack’s idea. I’m being herded.
    Snack pokes the fire a few more times. Once in bed, I roll over to watch Snack’s back some more. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stop myself from these thoughts? He bows his head and lets out a long deep sigh.
    Wookiee comes to roll up in a cinnamon bun shape in front of me, but not before he barks at Snack to stop what he’s doing.
    Snack looks over his shoulder at both of us. One of his eyebrows raises and the same corner of his lip curls up in amusement. “OK, buddy, I’m coming. Wow! He’s a bossy little thing, Min.”
    “Yep, he keeps me in line.”
    Snack crosses to the other side of the bed behind me. Two loud thumps tell