“Come meet Felix, Sammy. Then you can play.” Orion led the boy over to the machine and they waited for Felix to finish. Once he did, Orion helped him off the stool and settled one hand on his shoulder, the other on Sammy’s. “Felix, this is Sammy. He’s eight and he’s Talon and Darcy’s kid. I figured you two might have a few things in common.”
“Hi,” Felix said. “Do you want to play pinball?”
“Yeah!” Sammy said, and Orion helped him onto the stepstool.
I felt a gentle hand on my lower back and looked up to find Stoney next to me. “How you doin’?” he asked.
“I’m good.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“I think you have some layers.”
Stoney chuckled. “I’m a regular fuckin’ onion, baby.”
“I love onions,” I whispered, and Stoney grinned big.
“Stoney, do you wanna play?” Felix asked.
“Nah, I’m good, bud. You guys keep goin’.”
“I gotta potty,” he said, staring up at Stoney.
“Let me show you where the bathroom is,” he said, and we headed down the hall.
While we waited for Felix, Stoney and I were left alone in the hallway and I smiled up at him. “Thanks for this. He’s having a ball. Your club’s really nice.”
“You’re both welcome here anytime.”
“When do you want to take him out?”
“You tell me. Wednesday is the only night that’s iffy for me. Club meetin’ and sometimes I’m required to be there.”
“How about Thursday?” I suggested.
“Works for me.”
“We can tell him everything then if that’s okay.”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
I smiled. “Great.”
“All done,” Felix announced, walking out of the bathroom.
“Did you wash your hands?” Stoney asked.
“Yep.” He held them up. “See?”
“Good job,” Stoney said. “Okay, let’s go find those brownies.”
“Yes,” Felix said, and he grabbed Stoney’s hand.
Stoney led us back outside where dessert had already been set out, then we piled our plates high with sugar. Felix was in heaven.
