Page 183 of Plaything

Niko crouched next to the growing pool of kids. “Hey guys, you’ve gotten so big!” He grinned.

“Who are you? You’re new. Do we know her? Are you Uncle Aiden’s girlfriend? Ooooo!” A girl started singing while making kissy faces at the two of us.

Aiden put a sarcastic hand over his heart. “My girlfriend?” he repeated. “Look how pretty she is. Do you really think I could pull her?” he joked while making a silly face at the group.

I couldn’t help but laugh as the four greeted and played with the kids. Who knew they’d be such softies? Especially Dominic. The kids were basically using him as a jungle gym, climbing up him and making him lift them into the air.

“What’s your name, bud?” A kid with a strangely deep accent eyed me down.

I bit back a laugh as I squatted down to his level. “My name’s Odette—”

“What are you doing with the uncles? You’re a girl,” he crossed his arms at me.

Maybe their parents weren’t the ones I should’ve been nervous about. Children had no filter and could be ruthless. I smiled. “Well, I’m their friend, and they wanted me to come and meet all their super cool relatives. Don’t you have friends that are girls?”

I felt my hair being touched and turned around to see two little girls trying to braid it. I smiled and turned back to the boy, who looked taken back. “Ick! Hell no, girls have cooties,” he all but shouted. “Do you have cooties? Are you gonna infect them with your girl germs?” He pointed a finger at me.

I widened my eyes. “Absolutely not! In fact, I used extra special soap today that gets rid of all cooties,” I assured.

“Uncle Niko, did she use the special soap?” He cocked a speculating eyebrow behind me.

Niko chuckled. “Come on, man, do you think I’d expose you to... uh—”

“Girl cooties,” I reminded.

“Girl cooties!” Niko laughed at the childish phrase. “Does she pass the inspection?” He asked, playing along.

The boy seemed to think for a dramatically extended amount of time before he gave a single nod. “I guess if you say she’s alright, she’s alright, bud,” he smiled at me, showing his missing front tooth.

“You’re so pretty! Can you come play with us?” One of the girls asked while braiding my hair.

“I bet she’s real good at tag with those giraffe legs—not in those things, though,” a little boy commented, pointing at my loafers.

I nervously chuckled, looking up at my professors for help. The only time I’d been around kids was when I was one. I didn’t particularly like or dislike them; I was indifferent and didn’t know how to relate to them.

Wyatt crouched next to me. “She’s very good at tag,” he encouraged. “She can’t right now; we’ve gotta go see Mama and Pops, but she’ll find you later, okay?” He said, signing me up for a game of tag. I didn’t know if it was just a ploy to get me out of it now or if he was serious.

“Okay, Uncle Wyatt,” the girl let go of my hair, and she and her friend ran back behind the house where the rest of the people were.

“Please!” I caught the end of one of the boys begging Dominic and Niko to go with them, pulling at their hands. “You have to see it. We’ve been working on the fort all day, dudes,” he added.

Wyatt and I stood. Dominic sighed but smiled at the kid before turning to us. “I think Niko and I are going to go find a table,” he slightly widened his eyes as if saying he didn’t even want to try arguing with the boys.

Wyatt chuckled. “Good luck,” he said as Dominic and Niko were dragged away with the crowd of kids.

“You have so many... nieces and nephews?” I questioned. I didn’t think he had siblings.

Wyatt shrugged. “Second cousins. I’m so much older than they are; they’ve always called me uncle,” he explained.

“That’s not even all of them,” Aiden muttered, gesturing for me to follow him inside. “Don’t be nervous; they can smell it,” he smirked.

I sarcastically rolled my eyes as we entered the house. “Watch it or I’ll infect you with my girl cooties,” I joked.

He discreetly palmed my ass. “God, I hope so,” he flirted.

I sent him a wide-eyed look and swatted his hand away, noticing how many people were in the house. “Aiden,” I warned. Now was so not the time. In response, he sent me a mischievously innocent smile.

It was a small, open floor plan. They had a living room, kitchen, and a hallway where the bedrooms were. The furniture was dated, the carpet had a couple blue stains, the curtains were grandmotherly white lace, and it smelt amazing. A mixture of home-cooked turkey and cinnamon filled my senses as I watched what must’ve been ten women all arguing, laughing, and running around a small kitchen.

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