“So happy to live in boring old Sugarville Grove instead of having the coolest job ever,” Cody said. “I guess that’s what happens when you get old.”
Roan chuckled. “That and an injury that could have paralyzed me. Puts thing into perspective.”
“That must have been scary,” Emma said, eyes wide.
“It was, yeah,” Roan said.
“This gym is yours?” Marcus asked.
“That’s right,” Roan said. “Just bought it.”
“Do you sleep here?” Marcus asked.
“No. I have a house,” Roan said. “The one I grew up in, actually.”
“He bought the gym from creepy Wayne,” Julia said darkly. “I hope he’s moving away.”
“Why do you say he’s creepy?” Reese asked.
“You have to ask?” Julia glared at Reese, as if she were a total idiot. “You had the business next to his.”
“He was a colorful character,” Reese said. “But harmless. At least it seemed that way to me.”
“Whatever.” Julia rolled her eyes. “Adults never see what’s right in front of them.”
Reese paled but continued. “Next question. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or one hundred duck-sized horses? A is one horse-sized duck, B is one hundred duck-sized horses.”
“That’s not even a real question,” Cody said, but there was the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice.
“It is now,” Roan said. “Pick one.”
Paddles went up—a mix of colors. Emma held up green, laughing. “The little horses would be cute.”
‘What if they all launched themselves at you at once?” Marcus asked. “Like that story about all those Lilliputians inGulliver’s Travels.”
“Yeah, that would hurt,” Cody said, raising blue. “I’ll go with the giant duck.”
“Think about how big that duck’s poop would be,” Marcus said. “Like if it was down at Little Bear Lake. The grass would be covered.”
“Gross,” Emma said.
All the kids laughed. Roan and Reese exchanged an amused glance.
By the third question—unlimited pizza or unlimited tacos—they were all participating without hesitation. Marcus raised blue for pizza immediately, looking toward the pizza table. Emma chose green for tacos. Julia picked blue for pizza. “I’ve been craving it constantly.”
“What are you having?” Emma asked. “Do you know?”
“A girl.” Julia’s expression softened fractionally. “Not that I wanted to know. The ultrasound tech just blurted it out.”
“A girl,” Emma repeated, a wistful note in her voice. “That’s really cool.”
“Are you keeping it?” Cody asked.
Julia twisted her napkin into a ball. “I don’t know yet. My parents kicked me out and I’m living with my grandmother. Butshe’s super frail and sickly. And she’s kind of a hoarder. There’s no room for me or a baby.”
“I don’t think you can be ‘kind of a hoarder,’” Cody said. “You’re either one or not.”
“Do you know someone who hoards?” Julia crossed her arms over her chest, eyes glittering.
