Page 23 of CurVy Baby

“Language, Quinlan.”

He nods. “Sorry, Kath.”

Fucking hell.

Since Quinn spent that week with Kathleen in her house, he hasn’t been able to shake her. Which meansIhaven’t been able to fucking shake her. She calls him when she can’t find her glasses, or her tap is leaking when it isn’t. I don’t know if she’s crazy or lonely or both.

“Donald, you’re not dressed for company.” She squints up at me, genuine disapproval, pursing her lips. “Where are your slacks?”

I never know what to say to her.

Clearing my throat, I redirect the conversation, looking at the items in her hands. “A basket of candy and eggs?”

“What?”

I massage the bridge of my nose and up into my eyes. “What do you need a basket of candy and eggs for, Kathleen?”

“In case the children want an egg instead of candy. This generation is very health conscious.”

For the love of—“What children, Kathleen?”

“The children at the door.” She shuffles to peer up at me again. “Why are you so confused?”

“Why am I?”Jesus Christ.“I have no idea.”

“Hmm. Clearly,” she mutters.

“Gran Leeny!” Molly rushes over and embraces Kathleen’s waist, squeezing softly as the old biddy strokes her blonde hair and coos.

“I used to have hair this colour.”

Molly sighs against her. “How long ago?”

“Oh, a long, long time ago.”

“Hi, Kathleen.” Vallie trails Molly, tapping her daughter’s shoulder as she kisses the old biddy on both cheeks. They met at our wedding when she came as Quinn’s plus one. Which isweird.“Nice to see you.”

“He’s not wearing slacks, dear.” Kathleen points at me, Vallie chuckles at my frown of utter disbelief, and I turn and walk the fuck away before I say something I shouldn’t.

I fight my smile and leave them chatting.

Yep, we have a very strange life.

I hope Dex is ready for it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

TYLER

Stage Three: Exploration

Panting, Vallie peers out the cabin window, getting genuinely nervous now that the sun has dropped behind the trees, casting the forest in columns of dark and light.

“Where are they?” she mutters to herself.

She always talks to herself when she thinks she’s alone, but we listen in. Does she really think we would let her run around the forest for this long without keeping a tab on her? It’s been over an hour!

Not on her life.

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