Page 129 of Gratification in Gluttony

“Are human babies bigger?” Flo asked with an expression of alarm.

“Usually, yes,” Jude said, and she made a distressed noise.

“Your poor women,” she said, before she shook her head and held the baby out to Jude. “Would you like to hold him?”

For a moment, Jude’s eyes widened in panic before he sputtered, “O-okay.”

Toni’s chest ached beautifully as he watched Flo set little Bas in Jude’s arms. Jude smiled down at the baby, rocking him back and forth.

Mak placed the second baby in Flo’s arms, and Toni peered down at Bas’s twin. “She didn’t cry at all,” Flo said as she touched the baby’s chubby cheek. “She was born, and her eyes were so big. She was already searching around her little world, fearless.”

Eyes burning with fresh tears, Toni touched the tip of her little nose with his finger. “She’s beautiful, Flo.”

“Her name’s Toni,” Flo said, and Toni’s heart ground to halt, “because she’s gonna be brave just like you.”

“Don’t say that.” Toni shook his head as a hot tear slid down his cheek. “Come on, Flo, don’t do this to me.”

She was crying in earnest now, her black eyes so soft. “You’re my baby brother, Toni, but if my little girl lives her life with even half the courage you do, then I’m going to be one proud mother.”

“Fuck me,” Toni said as he burst into tears, leaning to press his forehead to Flo’s. “You know I’m an ugly crier.”

“We’re all ugly criers,” Flo said, sending Jude an apologetic smile. “It runs in the family, you know?”

Jude chuckled, eyes glossy as he transferred Bas back to his father. Mak cradled his son close in one arm and ran his hand over Flo’s hair with the other. Toni pressed his lips to Flo’s head.

“I’m so proud of you, you know that?” Toni sniffled against her brow.

“I know I haven’t always done right by you,” she sobbed softly. “But I’m gonna be better, okay?”

“Okay. Me too,” Toni promised. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Flo said as she held out his niece. “Here. Hold her.”

Crying like a child, Toni traced the little girl’s cheeks and nose. “She’s so beautiful, Flo. Look, Jude, her name’s Toni. Can you believe that?”

Jude trailed kisses from Toni’s temple to his jaw. “It’s wonderful.”

With a shuddering breath, Toni rested his head on Jude’s chest as he stood over them, hand running through Toni’s hair. Toni cradled his niece close with one arm, reaching out with his free hand to twine his fingers with his sister’s.

This was family too. Or at least, it was the healing start to one. He knew the people waiting outside that door may never fully come around the way Flo had, but that was okay. He had his chosen family at the cafe, and he had his sister and his niblings. And he had Jude.

What more could he ever want?

Chapter twenty-nine

Open Mic Night

The beginning of Octobermarked the first open mic night at The Passing Through Cafe. Toni and Jude had practiced nearly every day for the past few weeks, and while Jude had reassured Toni that he was ready, his stomach still roiled with nerves as they set up the keyboard on the makeshift stage he, Quin, and Krul had constructed.

With several weeks to advertise, the word had spread, and the cafe was busier than Toni had ever seen for a Saturday night. Gem had jumped behind the counter to run the espresso machine while the Sypent—Toni still couldn’t remember their name—and a young Cervyn manned the register and bakery case.

Quin had reserved two of the largest tables for their crew and had pushed them together as much as was possible with their circular shapes. After Toni finished setting up the keyboard, he led Jude to where Oliver and Liel were already settled, the Gymnot whispering something in Oliver’s ear that was making him blush.

Tad sat on the edge of one table, legs dangling as she regaled a tale that Toni hoped was fictional—something about her fisting a man as he begged her not to stop—as Zef listened intently. They looked both curious and disturbed, but they didn’t interrupt, even when Tad started pantomiming violently.

Glyma was flitting around, talking with patrons as Quin followed her, significantly less enthused to be socializing. Rusty sat a few chairs away from Jude, shuffling a deck of cards, a pair of big headphones on his ears. Toni could hear the music—something punk-rock-ish in a language he had never heard before.

When Bob skittered under the table between Oliver’s feet, the human shrieked and nearly crawled into Liel’s lap to get away from the weird… bug? Honestly, Toni still didn’t know what Bob was, but he wasn’t overly worried. Weird creatures appeared in the Pentagram all the time, having slunk in from the forest or the dark sea or the desert.

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