“Okay,” she replies as she runs back upstairs.
“So much for being able to catch up,” I say, sipping my water.
Hardy quirks an eyebrow, and I laugh. I’ve only beenaround the boys for a little under a month, but it’s impossible to have an adult conversation around them.
Minutes later, chaos descends the stairs in the form of two feckin’ cute lads full of energy. Levi runs over and launches himself at me, hugging me as though he forgot I was here, and it fills me with warmth. I’m also thankful I’ve covered my crotch this time.
When he pulls back, he climbs up my chest like I’m not even here so he can perch on the back of the couch, feet dangling over my shoulders.
Avery flits around the room, gathering supplies and depositing them onto the kitchen table. When she grabs a bin full of glitter containers, Hardy stops her and shakes his head.
“Do we have any Sharpies?” Avery asks sweetly, and Hardy gives her a curious look. “I want to sign Micah’s cast.”
He walks to the kitchen, pulling out a pack of multicolored Sharpies, and Levi leans back, dangling over the back of the couch, doing quite the impressive back walk-over, before crashing onto the ground and running to the kitchen.
The boys are occupied for about fifteen minutes, coloring, though I wouldn’t say quietly. Avery is doodling her name on Micah’s cast next to the spot I signed, while Micah fills in a horse with a brown crayon in an animal coloring book.
Levi has added poop or fart clouds to almost every animal in a different book. He holds up a page for me to see. “Look, the chickens are pooping!”
Hardy chuckles next to me and then leans in, speaking so the kids can’t hear. “Wait till they start drawing dicks on everything.”
“I hope I’m around long enough to see it.” I smile.
“You will be.”
The front door opens, and Bella’s son Isaac walks in, kicking off his shoes and tossing his coat over the banister. I expect him to take one look and bolt for his room, but he joins us at the counter. Bella and Hardy have been together sinceChristmas, and I’m envious of the way they’ve blended their families together.
“How was your dad’s?” Hardy asks.
“The same as it always is. What’s going on here?” He nods to the boys coloring with Avery.
“Playdate,” I say.
“Wanna see my poops?” Levi shouts at Isaac with a big grin.
“Levi, stop talking about poop, or I’m telling Mom,” Micah scolds.
“That’s gross,” Avery says, wrinkling her nose.
“I’d love to see your poops. Are we talking little pellets or big logs?” Isaac asks as he joins Levi at the table.
“Eww!” Avery groans. “C’mon, Micah, let's go play with my ponies.”
Micah shrugs and follows her upstairs.
“What’s this?” Isaac asks, pointing to a page that is covered in brown.
Levi laughs. “That’s a poo-splosion! The horse had to cha-cha really bad.”
“Cha-cha?” Isaac asks.
“Yeah, like the song. Diarrhea cha-cha-cha,” Levi says.
“Oh my God, I haven’t thought about that song in years.” Hardy laughs. “It’s good to know that future generations are keeping it alive and well.”
“Is this an American thing I don’t know about? My folks didn’t teach me any songs about feces growing up, and now I’m feeling like I missed out.”
“Oh yeah, I think I know that one. You can keep making up rhyming verses,” Isaac says.
