Page 102 of Broken Grump

So, on my passenger’s seat sit two greasy pies with all the fix-ins.

After arriving at Flores Manor, I ring the doorbell. Addie answers, and she’s in a pair of muted green, corduroy overalls. Underneath, there is a tan T-shirt with black trimming around the neck and arms. As for her hair, she has two messy braids on either side of her head.

Per usual, she looks adorable.

“Hey, Hayden,” she says casually.

“Addie. I brought your favorite.”

When her eyes set on the boxes, they go wide, and she reaches for them. “How did you—wait. I don’t want to know. I don’t care. I’m starving.”

Even before sitting down, she takes a slice and starts munching on it.

“Luna! Paige! Dinner!”

Soon, two little girls jaunt down the stairs.

“Wait.” I put a hand on her shoulder, and she turns, revealing a little bit of sauce on her cheek. Before telling her about the surprise, I use my thumb to wipe it off.

“Oh.” She giggles and her cheeks turn a light hue of pink. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” The pad of my finger burns in the best way after touching her skin.

After that, she gets Luna and her friend all situated with dinner, and then I ask her to meet me in the hallway quickly.

“What’s up?”

“We’re going to have a surprise guest after dinner tonight.”

Her face twists. “Really? Who?”

I flick my wrist. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Okay,” she responds cautiously.

Then, we join the girls and eat our own ‘za off of our paper plates.

“So,” she asks after blotting her mouth with a crinkled napkin, “how’s work?”

“Um, good. Very good, actually.”

“Great.” Her eyebrows dance up and down.

“I heard today that we solved everything with the IRS.”

For most adults, those three words are scary. But when I look over at Luna and Paige, it’s evident that they don’t care in the slightest.

So, I continue, “I used a few connections to speed up the process, and everything has been resolved. Now, all I have to deal with is the SEC situation. However, I’m positive they won’t find anything either. I’m always doing things by the books, and so are my employees. My business has been built on that kind of integrity.”

“Uh-huh.” Her grandfather’s company is entangled with mine now, so I know she’s more interested in the subject than her response would suggest.

“But I still haven’t heard from Randall. Although, I’m hoping he’ll call with an answer any day now.”

She chomps on her second or third slice and says, “Well, I’m really glad you’re less stressed now, Hayden.”

“Thanks.”

Once dinner is over, the girls clean up after themselves and then ask to be excused back up to Luna’s room.

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