I got to eat at the table like a big boy. I downed the cheesy noodles and exclaimed, “Damn, that was good.”
For some reason that made Nicky snort. “It was simply pasta and cheese.”
“Pretty sure I didn’t buy any fettucine,” I remarked, recognizing the rectangular and flat noodle.
“You didn’t. I made it and the sauce. Would have been better with some fresh parmesan, but I made do with what you had in the fridge.”
If this was making do, then I couldn’t wait to see what she could do when she had all the ingredients she wanted. Hold on, that kind of thinking implied she’d be around long enough for me to find out.
Percy suddenly squawked as Zaza grabbed the reptile—ahem, dragon—in a chokehold.
“Dinosauro,” she squealed. “Mio.”
“Drago,” Percy corrected. “Sono un drago.”
“Ooh, drago,” Zaza repeated, not at all upset at the change.
“Lascia andare, Percy,” Nicky admonished as she swapped our pasta bowls for a plate of cookies and cake.
“Mamma.” Zaza’s lower lip jutted.
“Ora!” Nicky barked which must have meant “let go” since the baby unlatched her death grip hug. Zaza still wore a pout as she toddled for me with arms up.
“Your mommy’s there.” I pointed.
“Su!” Zaza insisted wagging her hands.
“She wants you because I was stern,” Nicky advised as she lifted Percy to a chair and placed some treats on a napkin.
“Meaning I shouldn’t give in.”
“No, I shouldn’t. You can hold her if you want.”
“Me?” It came out a tad shocked. “Why would she want to sit in my lap?”
“Because she likes you.” Nicky rolled her eyes as if it were the most basic thing in the world.
It wasn’t. I’d never had a child take a shine to me before. Then again, I wasn’t usually around children. Still, she’d not blown up or squished when I last picked her up. I gingerly gripped her again around the armpits and lifted, wondering if I should stand her on my thighs, only her legs folded as I lowered to my lap. She sat there and reached for the cookies.
“Dai una torta a Bruce?” Nicky said in Italian.
“Si, Mamma.” The child grabbed a slice of cake from the plate in a tight fist that squished it slightly, but I didn’t refuse it when she offered. At least her hands were clean and she’d not prechewed it.
Pretty sure I visited heaven as I ate the Italian version of a brownie. I sure as hell groaned. Loudly. Probably why everyone stared at me.
“What? It was good.” I might have sounded a tad defensive.
Nicky’s smile hit me in the chest. “Then by all means, have another slice.”
I ate four and downed a mug of hot cocoa. I would have had more but Percy gobbled the rest.
“So about this dragon thing,” I said when Percy finished snacking.
“Ask your questions later. I need a nap.” Percy wandered off to the mattress on the floor and flopped down, not alone though. A yawning Zaza lay down beside Percy and draped an arm over its back.
A girl and her dragon. It would be cute if it wasn’t so fucking crazy.
“Let me get the dishes,” I offered, grabbing the empty plate and bringing it to the sink.
