Page 45 of Manny

“Good as I’ll ever be.” Eli has already run ahead into the kitchen out back as I follow behind.

“The little guy’s like a bat outta hell.”

“Tell me about it. Couldn’t wait to ditch me so he could come and make shit with Aunt Indi.”

Harlem grins. Yeah, he’s always hanging around his ol’ lady’s shop. Any excuse to be close to her and not do any work over at Tag’s. Still. He’s a little older than Indi, and though he’s not at retirement age, the men of the club have done pretty well with club coffers. I do my bit, pay my fees and contribute, but I don’t have my own business like most of the men in the Rebels. Still. I’m happy with where I’m going, even if Indigo is completely embarrassed by me and what I do after dark.

Afterdark.

That’s the club Lace was talking about. I narrow my eyes as I stride into the kitchen.

Lace wouldn’t invite Manny, would she? I mean, he’s into her — clearly — and other men, but surely she wouldn’t bring him along. It has me wondering if I’m just conjuring shit up now, or am I really onto something?

Already at the stove, Manny has his back to us. Hearing Eli, he turns around and drapes an apron over my son’s head. “There, now you’re perfect.”

Eli is not worried at all by the pink frilly apron that reads, ‘NOLA Sweet Treats Bakery’ on the front.

“Thanks, Uncle Manny!”

Everyone is uncle or aunt around here. It just makes things easier.

Manny grins at him. “Ready to get those hands dirty?”

Eli nods enthusiastically as Manny pulls over a stool for Eli to sit on.

He looks up at me. “Hey, big guy.”

He always has to add something to his greeting. It kinda irks me. I give him a chin lift. “What’s up?”

“Well, I’m gonna teach young Eli here how to make chocolate croissants.”

Eli’s eyes go wide. “You are?”

Manny waggles his eyebrows. “Yep. But I told Cami we’d wait for her, so in the meantime, why don’t we get all the ingredients we’re gonna need?”

Eli high-fives Manny.

“Hey, bud, I’m gonna head out for a while. I’ve got some errands to run,” I say.

“Yeah, okay, bye, Dad.” Eli doesn’t even look my way, disappearing into the huge pantry as Manny gives me a smirk.

“He’ll be fine,” Manny assures me.

“He shouldn’t go near the hot oven,” I say. “He could get burned.”

Manny gives me an eye roll, calling over his shoulder to my son. “You’re not gonna go anywhere near a hot oven without mitts on, right, bud?”

“Dad, stop being so annoying!” Eli calls from inside the pantry.

“Don’t forget the chocolate bits,” Manny hollers behind his hand, then to me he says, “See, we got it under control,Beefcake.He’s a smart kid. And we bake all the time, he uses oven gloves.”

“Do you have to keep callin’ me that?”

“You’re quite welcome to stay and help us, though we don’t allow grumps in this kitchen.”

I shake my head. “You’re lucky my kid likes you.”

Manny is not deterred. “Yeah, or else what?”

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