Page 98 of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Tripod

“Oh!” Realization changes the woman’s previously cold features. She shakes my hand with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, yes. She said you’d be coming by for the girls. Something about your sister having a last minute work thing.”

“Yeah, she couldn’t turn it down. Her manager is kind of a d- jerk.” I have to watch my language around other kids. Opal and Violet have heard every curse and naughty word under the sun, even if they don’t know what they mean. I can’t say the same for every kid at the party.

“Well, if you can stop them, you can take them,” the woman laughs as Opal speeds past us, following one of the little boys with light-up sneakers.

“Oy!” I shout, holding my hand to the side of my mouth. Opal freezes and turns to face me with a grin. “No love for me?”

“Uncle B!” she squeals and runs at me with open arms.

Despite the chocolate cake on her shirt, I crouch and hold my arms out just in time for her to run into them.

“I missed you, bug.”

Her arms are skinny, but still strong enough to strangle me. When she finally lets go and backs away, her eyes fall on Sophie.

“Who’s that?” She points blatantly at the woman behind me.

“Opal, this is Sophie. Sophie, this is my niece, Opal.”

Sophie holds out a hand, a warm smile on her lips.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Opal.”

“You’re pretty.” Opal’s back straightens while she shakes Sophie’s hand. The little adult.

“Thank you, so are you.”

“Where’s your sister?” I ask, standing up to search the room and the part of the kitchen visible.

“Iuuh.” Opal’s version of ‘I don’t know’. It’s the most noncommittal sound someone can make and she does so with a shrug.

“Fat load of help you are, kid,” I mutter. Lifting my hand to the side of my mouth again, I shout. “Violet Kincaid, time to go beanie weenie!”

Violet appears, popping out from behind the wall separating the living room from the kitchen. There’s chocolate cake smeared on her cheek and she’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Untle B!” Her squeal is identical to her sister’s.

“‘ey!” I hold out my arms but don’t crouch. Instead, when Violet reaches me, my hands slip beneath her armpits and I pick her up with ease, swinging her legs up and back before bringing her in so she can wrap her legs partially around me. “Beans, this is Sophie.” Violet is already eyeing Sophie with suspicion.

“Is she your dirlfriend?”

“You bet your skinny little butt, she is.” I wink as Sophie smiles in response, not a hint of doubt in her eyes.

“Momma says you shouldn’t say butt,” Violet giggles.

“Yeah, it’s a bad word,” Opal agrees.

I roll my eyes.

“Well, Momma’s not here and snitches get stitches.” I grab Opal’s hand, still holding Violet in my other arm since she weighs barely thirty pounds. I’m not even sure she weighs that much. The girl is tiny for her age. “You ready to go?”

“Yep!”

“Oh, the goody bags are by the door,” shouts the mother of the birthday kid as we head for the exit.

“Thanks!” I call over my shoulder, grabbing two little paper bags from the table by the door.

Sophie follows us and I can feel her eyes on me. Opal glances back every now and then but doesn’t say anything.

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