“It’s good with me,” I said.
“Yes,” Felix said and did his little fist pump.
“Let me put this stuff in the kitchen and I’ll show you where the food is,” Stoney said.
We followed Stoney into the huge, industrial kitchen and he pulled out the lasagna, along with a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine, and two bags of chips.
“I didn’t really know what everyone liked, so I picked Fox’s favorites.”
“Like the beer choice,” he said, setting it in the fridge.
He grabbed a post-it note, and wrote ‘Stoney’ on it, adhering it to the lasagna and also putting it in the fridge.
“You ready for meat?” he asked Felix, but I felt like it was a bit of a double entendre and I forced myself to keep breathing.
“When can we play pinball?” Felix asked.
“After you eat, honey,” I said.
“Okay.”
We followed Stoney out of the kitchen, and through some French doors to an enclosed patio with two large grills set up, along with several picnic tables. It was cold, so the freestanding outdoor heaters were on and made the area kind of cozy.
“Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get plates,” Stoney offered. “You want to start with a hot dog or a burger, Fox?”
“Burger, please,” he said.
“Cheese?”
“Yes, please,” Felix said.
“Me too, please,” I said, and I guided Felix to one of the empty tables.
“Am I allowed a soda, Auntie?” Felix asked.
“Let’s see what they have. If they have soda, it’s cool with me. Just no caffeine.”
He was already going to be hopped up on sugar and adrenaline, I really didn’t need the kid caffeinated as well.
“Yes,” he said, bouncing in his seat.
I smiled, ruffling his hair. Stoney returned with three plates piled high with food, setting them on the table, then grabbing condiments and napkins.
“He good with Sprite?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s great, thanks,” I replied.
“What do you want?”
“Water’s good. Thanks.”
Stoney nodded, opening a cooler, grabbing a pop for Felix, water for me, and a beer for himself, then sliding onto the bench across from us.
“This place is kind of amazing,” I said.
Stoney smiled. “We like it.” He nodded to the grills. “We usually have those gates open, but with kids and their desire to climb all over our bikes, we close them for family nights.”
“Smart.”
