Page 93 of Stay Toxic

I grimaced and walked into the kitchen, away from the amused parents.

“Is she pretty?” Lola asked.

“The prettiest besides you,” I agreed.

“Oh, that’s pretty then.” She nodded.

That was my girl, not vain in the least. She knew her worth.

“That’s her…by the sink,” I whispered. “What do you think?”

“I love her hair,” Lola whispered back. “Will she let me braid it?”

“I’ll bet she would,” I confessed. “Do you want to ask her?”

“Maybe after dinner,” she said, squeezing my neck tighter. “Will she like me, Uncle Shasha?”

“She’ll adore you,” I promised.

More wetness, and then the sound of it hitting the floor.

I sighed and looked down at the little man in my arms who had his face turned outwards and resting on my shoulder.

The entire sleeve of my shirt was covered in it.

Gross.

The sound of wet hitting the floor had both JJ and McCoy, who were closer, turning toward us.

“Oh, babies!” JJ said.

That caught Brecken’s attention, and she turned off the water and turned.

Her eyes widened when she saw the kids.

“I feel like you might have a leak, Shasha.” She smiled wide, displaying her beautiful white teeth. “And who is that gorgeous girl that looks a lot like you?”

“This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I bounced Lola on my hip. “Lola, this is Brecken. Brecken, this is my Pchelka.”

“And what does Pchelka mean?” Brecken asked.

“Little Bee.” Lola blushed furiously.

Brecken’s eyes softened as she caught a rag next to the sink and came toward me.

She cleaned off Brando’s face, and then my arm, before dropping to her knees and cleaning up the floor.

“These are Brecken’s sisters, JJ and McCoy,” I said to Lola.

“Hi.” Lola blushed harder.

Brecken stood up, tossed the rag into a room off the side of the kitchen, and then looked at Lola. “Would you like to help me finish the mashed potatoes?”

Lola’s eyes widened. “Yes!”

Gather…somewhere else.

—Wall sign

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