“Lucy.” She doesn’t look over. “Luce.”
“Hmm?” she asks, looking over guiltily.
Oh, hell no. If I’m right…
“Where’d they go?”
She takes a sip of coffee, hedging. “Dsnd.”
“Where?” I ask again.
She looks to me, eye-to-eye, the guilt obvious.
“Disneyland.”
Tera gasps and I nod, lips firm, eyes narrowed.
“You know…” I say. I wanted to take them. We were going to all go as a family their first time.
She nods. “I know.”
“So….?” I question.
She huffs. “You try saying no to themandmy mama. There’s no way you could. If I could’ve, I would’ve. I swear.”
I pout, but she’s right. I can’t say no to those four or mama on their own. Put them together… she never stood a chance.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I admit dejectedly.
Jesse leans forward. “They’ll have more fun withusanyway.”
I perk up at that. Sure, it’s their first time, but going with us will be a whole other experience.
“We’re way cooler and spry. We can keep up with them and we’ll go on every ride twenty times if they want,” I reply.
“Exactly,” Jesse says, and we fist bump.
Kadi rolls her eyes. “Guys are so weird.”
“Why didn’t you go?” I ask our tiny dancer.
“I have class and we’re preparing for a show.”
“I’m so there, Kadi girl. Front and center.”
She grins. “Like always.”
“Always,” I hold out my fist and she just looks at it. She reaches up, pries open my fist, then hooks her pinky finger with mine.
“This can be our fist bump,” she tells me, and I get all choked up but I'm not letting her see that. I want her to keep thinking I'm cool… which I am and always will be. I'm Xan the Man, after all.
“I love it.” I tell her then look at Jesse. “There’s no way I could have known Kiki was in there. She’s got her own brand of juju.”
Jesse pales as he always does when it’s mentioned. I smirk.
Sera and Cage come walking in.
"Right?" I ask Sera.
