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“Are you serious? He’s a pain in the ass on a good day.”
Debs snorts. “Yup, but he’s one hell of a man. And you know he’s only a pain in the ass because he cares.”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah - oh fuck me, these brownies are good,” I moan around my mouthful. “Goddamn, Debs.”
“You know,” she says with a drawl, well, kinda, given her accent, “Willa gave me that recipe.”
I freeze. “Wha?”
“Yup, that one came from Willa. Trust me, hers are way better,” she singsongs.
I swallow my mouthful and place the brownie down on the tray. My eyes narrow. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Something. Dunno.” She giggles before her hand gently squeezes mine. “Don’t change what you’re doing with her.”
“I’m not doing anything with Willa. We're friends. But -,”
“But?”
“But shit, she’s something special, and I’m honored just to share space with her.”
She smiles softly, “Good. Now eat your brownie. You have around 30 seconds before Sid smells this batch and comes sniffing.”
I grab a handful, putting up with the burn because these damn brownies are worth it, before heading out the back door straight into the Big Littles.
“Oh, thanks, Doggy,” Cove says, plucking a brownie from my hand, the rest of the Big Littles following.
“Ah, I stole those fair and square,” I mutter.
Jovie tiptoes as tall as she can get and pats me on the shoulder, “All for us. Love you, Doggy.” She tries to slap a wet kiss on my cheek and I can’t keep up the grumpy face I’ve put on.
To be honest, I had no business thinking I could eat five brownies anyway. Probably. “So, what’s the haps, kids?”
“The ‘haps’?” Elio asks, using air quotes and looking disgusted at my attempt at hip speak.
Before I can open my mouth Cove butts in, “We’ve been coming up with plans for Miss Willa’s place.”
“There’s been a man looking at her house,” Kit continues, around a half chewed mouthful of brownie.
“What does this man look like?” I have a feeling I know, but I was hoping that Diesel asshole only made one appearance.
“Huge. Way too many muscles. Like an old sock stuffed with walnuts,” Jovie says, her hazel eyes huge in her face.
I try not to snort at the image, but that's exactly what the big bastard looks like. “And he’s been looking at her house?”
The girls all nod, looking like bobble heads. “We’ve come up with some booby traps. Miss Willa will be safe,” Elio says, carefully nibbling around the edges of his brownie, avoiding eye contact.
I open my mouth only to close it again. The Big Littles are a little scary and a lot protective. “What kind of booby traps?”
They all side eye each other. “The legal kind,” Cove says, hands behind her back.
My eyes narrow at her answer and she grins wide, her eye teeth still a little short after she lost them last summer. She pulls her hands from behind her back and wiggles her chubby little fingers. I stare at her but she doesn’t cave, nor do the others. I know that whatever they’re up to is probably no good but…if it helps keep Willa safe, who am I to stop them?
“Just, be good, OK?”
Jovie stretches up ata to slap her hand on my shoulder, looking at me very earnestly. “We’ll see what we can do.”
“Let’s roll out!” Cove shouts and the Big Littles all spin on their heels and climb into the golf cart Rider gifted them, flooring it in the direction of their clubhouse.
