“See you there.” I waved and went down to the backyard in time to see Hale throw Pax to Dare.
“Hi!” Verity came over and gave me a hug, Hope on her hip. “Sorry we were late. We had issues with security.” She looked at Hale and sighed.
Did I want to know? Probably not.
“Hi, Hope.” I waved at my tiny sister, her blonde hair done neatly in little braids. Her dress was the same blue as Verity’s. I realized they were nearly all wearing something blue–probably so Verity could easily find everyone in the airport.
Hope waved back as she sucked on her thumb.
“Dare, Chance, come meet your sister,” Verity yelled as Dare threw Pax back to Hale.
Two boys who looked a lot like Verity, with her dark hair and golden skin, ran over. One was older than Riley and Mercy but not as old as Hale. The other was in elementary school.
“This is Grace, you didn’t get to meet her last time,” Verity introduced. “These are your brothers, Dare and Chance.
“Sister, nice place,” Dare, the older one, said as he looked around. He wore black jeans with a chain, a blue band shirt, and had his eyebrow pierced. He was in high school if I remembered correctly.
“Hi. You could play so many games in this backyard,” Chance agreed, wearing a blue shirt for some sports team.
“Yes, they play flying disc sometimes,” I told them.
“That guy, what secret agency was he from? Hehasto be an agent, between that car and his suit,” Dare said.
“Dare.” Verity gave him a look.
“Oh, come on. I looked up Compass BioTek after the parents shit a pumpkin about Creed applying. I absolutely believe that you work with secret government agencies.” Dare grinned at me.
“Shhh.” I eyed Tru, who was on the porch swing with Riley and Mercy. “It’s not an agency that Tru needs to know about, at least not until she’s old enough for a work permit.”
Verity and Dare laughed.
Chance looked puzzled. “She got the internship, right? I had to look up a lot of words to help her fill that out.”
“Thank you for that,” I said. “She did. I’m teasing. Tru is so smart, but we don’t need her taking over the universe yet.”
Chance blinked. “I thought she wanted to solve an equation no one has solved and go into space.” He sucked in a breath. “Are you working with the Agents in Glasses?”
“That’s amovie, Chance,” Verity reminded.
“If we are, I can’t tell.” I grinned.
Chance nodded. “Understood.”
“Well, thank you for having us all. Dad’s sorry that he couldn’t make it. I have something for you from him in my bag. Where can we get ready? Wait, why aren’t you ready? Shouldn’t you be in hair and makeup?” Verity appraised me.
“They’re not coming, so I have a slight hair and makeup emergency.” I sighed, knowing we were now behind schedule. “Um, the boys can use the guest house. The girls can use the creepy doll room, and you can be with me? Wait, the little ones probably need help.”
“I’ve got them,” Mercy assured. “Hi, Big Sis.”
“Hi, Mercy.” I hugged her. Her hair was up in a messy bun, her blue shirt with a skate smash team on it.
“Grace.” Tru ran over and hugged my leg.
“Hi, Tru.”
“Please, let’s not go in the—” Brennan winced as Hale threw Pax into the pool. “Pool.”
“Hale, get the boys, girls, you’re with Mercy,” Verity yelled. “Hopey, baby, get dressed with Mercy, okay?”
