Page 71 of Vex

“Sorry, Craig, but yeah you do. Babies can get sick really easy, so we have to be careful not to let germs get around them. Clean hands are important.”

“I think pets are better. No need to be clean to be around them. Loki’s girlfriend is having puppies soon. Maybe you should get one of them instead,” Craig says in a serious as hell voice. He’s obviously put some thought into this.

“You really don’t like baths, do you?” I ask with a small laugh.

“I just get dirty again, so why bother?” he answers while holding out a black licorice stick to me.

We munch on our candy silently for a few moments before Bella walks over to stand near the couch.

“You okay now, Taja?”

“Yeah, Bella, I am. Thank you.”

“I took the bread out of the oven for you. I tested it with a toothpick like Ava showed me to do and it was ready. I hope it wasn’t for something special because Chubs was waiting and took it off my hands. He said it was hot and he was doing me a favor,” Bella says while rolling her eyes and laughing.

“That’s fine. I was just baking for something to do.”

“You’re studying to be a nurse, right?” Bella questions while stroking Bart’s little skunk head.

“Yeah, I’m close to having my degree. I’ve already gotten to do quite a few clinical hours in the hospital, so I don’t have much left to complete.”

“One of these days, would you mind teaching me some first aid? I think it’s something we should all know, and I thought you might be the best to ask,” Bella questions softly.

“Bella, that’s a great idea. I’d love to. Rex mentioned they keep a well-stocked first aid kit here. We’ll go through it together, and I’ll show you what each thing is good for. Basic first aid’s very important even for small cuts or burns. How about tomorrow we get together and do that?”

“Sounds perfect. Thank you.”

I pull myself up and off the couch, after relocating the cat and skunk, and walk to the bar to take a seat next to Chubs. Mac’s strolling back and forth on the bar top singing a song I don’t know. Something about a fat donkey with a bad attitude and a bird saving the day. I think he makes up half the songs he sings around here. Glancing at the plate in front of Chubs, I feel my stomach roll again.

“Oh God, Chubs. Please don’t eat that,” I beg in a tortured voice.

He instantly shoots me a guilty look but has already taken a bite. Swallowing slowly, he shoots me a contrite look. I know I’m about to lose this battle again.

The plate contains slices of the zucchini bread, smeared in what I think is butter and BBQ sauce, fresh jalapeno peppers sliced in half (stem still in place) laying on top of the sauce with guacamole on top of them. Next to the sickening sight of the sandwich is nacho cheese Doritos and a tall glass of orange juice. The smell of this concoction hits my nose, and it’s off to the bathroom again.

When I return to the bar, Chubs is gone, but the kids and pets are hanging out. I pour some ginger ale and sip at it slowly until my stomach feels normal again.

“Where’s Chubs?” I ask Bella, but it’s Craig who answers.

“At the gate. Toes called him and said he was wanted down there. Two men wanted to talk to Mr. Cooper. I don’t know who that is but Chubs left.”

“How do you know all that, Craig? Chubs didn’t say who called or why he had to leave. Just that we were to stay here with Taja until he got back,” Bella asks.

“I heard Toes telling him that on the phone,” Craig replies with a grin.

“You weren’t sitting anywhere near him!” Bella insists.

“Still heard it. Axel says I have bat ears,” Craig says proudly.

“Guess you do,” mumbles Bella while giving him the side-eye.

Mr. Cooper’s a popular guy around here it seems.

I spent the late afternoon hanging out with Tessie and hearing all about the latest projects she and Trigger have been working on. I’ve missed having sister time and having Bella hang with us just made it nicer. I must have fallen asleep at some point, because when I wake up, I’m alone in the clubhouse except for Duffy and Loki. It’s still daylight outside but darker inside. I must have slept for quite a while. I let Loki outside to go potty, but he insists on coming back in when he’s finished. I don’t mind this at all. He’s a beautiful dog and regardless of the things I’ve heard he’s capable of doing, he’s friendly with me.

Sitting on the couch, petting Loki, I see a small figure slip through the kitchen door and go behind the bar. A moment later, I see Craig creeping back toward the kitchen with two cans in his hands.

“Craig? What’cha got there, buddy?” I ask and smile when he jumps slightly.

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