“I vote bowl,” I said. “You know how I feel about laser tag.”
“Not a fan?” Stoney asked.
I smiled. “Dark room with loud noises, not so much. I like to see what’s coming.”
“Okay,” Felix said, but I could tell he was disappointed.
“Youcango play with Stoney, honey,” I said. “I’ll stay right here, or if they need the table, I’ll hang over by the laser tag entrance. You can come out anytime you want to.”
Felix eyed Stoney, and he slid out of his seat, stepping to our side of the booth and hunkering down beside Felix. “Whatever you want to do bud, it’s all good with me. Then we can bowl with Auntie if you’re not wiped out from pew pewing me.”
Felix laughed. “Pew pewing?”
Stoney shrugged. “Don’t actually know what the term is, but I figured pew pewing was accurate.”
“You’re funny, Stoney.”
“Heard that before, bud.” He smiled gently. “So, you wanna come pew pew with me?”
Felix looked up at me again.
“Whatever you want to do, honey. If I’m being given an opinion, though, I think you’re gonna have way more fun playing laser tag with Stoney, than bowling with me.”
“But can we bowlafterlaser tag?” he asked.
“If that’s what you want, absolutely,” I said. “This night is all about you, Fox.”
He nodded, and focused back on Stoney. “I’d like to pew pew with you, please.”
Stoney laughed, standing to his feet and waiting for Felix to slide out of the booth.
“You should pee before you go,” I suggested.
“You take him to do that, and I’ll get us a time,” Stoney said.
I nodded and took Felix to the bathroom.
* * *
Stoney and Felix managedto get in for a game almost right away, and fifteen minutes later, Felix came running out, jumping up and down as he sat beside me again. “We won!”
“You did? That’s awesome,” I said. “That was quick.”
“Thought one game was a good start,” Stoney said.
I smiled. “Smart.”
“Stoney’s even better at it than Uncle Luca,” Felix said.
Stoney laughed. “Make sure you tell him that.”
“Or, maybe we don’t,” I suggested.
“Can we bowl now, please?” Felix asked.
I checked my watch. “We have a lane in ten minutes. Do you want something for dessert?”
“Can I have a milkshake, please?”
