Page 53 of Vex

“Almost. I’ve met most of those people, and I’m sure Pooh was one of the guys I thanked this morning,” I answer.

“I’ll properly introduce you two later. Pooh and Vex are tight so you’ll see a lot of us. But the reason I wanted to speak with you is I wanted to tell you what Craig did. I’m still blown away,” Pippa rushes out before stopping to laugh.

I already know her and I could be good friends. You can clearly see her love for the people she considers family when she says their names. Her whole face lights up and she practically glows.

“Okay, so you need to know that Craig hates soap and water like it’s out to kill him. Say the word bath and you won’t find him for hours. No lie! Everyone here can tell you how fast that little shit can run when he thinks he’s going to get cleaned up. Anyway, he just came to the house after meeting you and told me he needed a bath because he had a date. Needless to say, I about passed out. First, because he asked for a bath. That’s never happened. Second, because he’s barely five years old and talking about having a date. After he took his bath, which means the bathroom got a bath too, he strolls into the kitchen in his Aqua-man underwear and asked me where his romantic shirts were.”

Pippa stops again to laugh to the point of tears in her eyes before finishing.

“I look at him like he’s lost his mind. I said, ‘Craig, I don’t know what you mean by romantic shirts. You only like wearing your t-shirts and hoodies. What’s a romantic shirt?’ He gives me that look that a child gives an adult when they think we’re being idiots. You know the look? Yeah, it’s always fun being on the end of one. So, he tells me that romantic shirts are the ones with buttons. I’m confused as hell at this point and ask him why they’re the romantic ones. Again, I get the look before he explains that shirts with buttons are the ones Pooh wears when he’s taking me on a date. T-shirts and hoodies are for getting dirty in, not dates. Oh my God, Taja, you should have seen the look on his face as he explains this, slowly, to the simple adult. I about peed myself!”

At this point, I’m laughing along with her and picturing that muddy little face again. I definitely have an admirer if he was willing to get clean and dress up for me.

“Please don’t tell him I told you. I just had to share so you’d know how serious he’s being about your date,” Pippa says after gaining control of herself. “I may have to hire you to date him every time he needs a bath.”

“Awww! I’ll treat our date with the utmost respect, Pippa. Thank you for telling me.”

“He was stopping to tell Bella about his date and to ask her about his outfit on his way here, so I better get going before he sees me. Thanks, Taja. Nice meeting you. Why don’t you, Tessie and Vex come for dinner tonight? We’ll grill something and relax on the deck.”

“Thank you. I’d like that but I need to talk with Vex and Tessie first. We’ll let you know, though.”

“Cool! Gotta scoot!”

“What kind of snack should I get ready for him? What’s he like?” I shout out just before she exits the doorway.

“He asked Chubs to help him pack some snacks for you two before Church started, so he has it covered. But don’t let him talk you into any more than one root beer,” Pippa hollers over her shoulder as she disappears.

Within seconds of Pippa leaving, Craig comes walking in from the kitchen. Now that he’s devoid of mud, I can see how cute this little boy really is. Dirty blond hair, combed neatly, and a big smile, he’s all clean and shiny. He’s got a backpack on and is being trailed by a pig, skunk, and a large ass dog with Mac perched on its back. I smother a laugh when I realize there has got to be a joke in all of that somewhere.

“Hi, Craig. Who’s your big friend here?”

“That’s Loki. Miss Ava let him outside to go potty, so I asked him to come too. Have you met Mac?” Craig explains as he sets his backpack on the table and takes a seat.

“Yes, I have. Hi, Mac. Is Loki friendly?” I ask nervously as the dog starts sniffing my leg.

“Yeah, he’s cool. Unless one of the twins cry. Or Bella gets upset about something. He’s only bit a few people, I think, and I heard they were bad men. So, I don’t think that counts. I heard Gunner say once that Loki lit some guy’s ass up good, but I wasn’t here for that. Oh shit! Sorry, Taja. I’m not supposed to use those words in front of women, but I forget sometimes.”

“I won’t tell,” I promise him with a wink.

“I’m telling,” Mac screeches while flying from Loki’s back to the tabletop.

“I’ll tell Axel where you’re hiding the cashews,” Craig threatens.

“I’m zippin’ it!” Mac concedes.

“You look very nice, Craig. What kind of snacks did you bring us? Why don’t you get them out and I’ll grab us a drink. Root beer?”

“How’d you know that’s my drink?” Craig asks with a confused look.

“A little birdie told me,” I joke as I walk behind the bar to retrieve his root beer and a water for myself.

“Mac? He’s the only bird I know,” Craig responds in a serious voice.

“It’s just an expression,” I tell him as I set our drinks down and take my seat again. When he continues to look at me in confusion, I explain what I mean by an expression. Craig listens closely and nods when I’m done.

“Okay, I get it. Chubs teaches me my important stuff, but we haven’t gotten to expressions yet,” Craig tells me as he starts setting out enough snacks to feed the entire MC.

He picks up a bag of licorice, opens it and holds it out to me first. It’s black licorice, which I hate with a passion, but I take a stick anyway. He pulls out one for himself and starts munching on it while I tentatively take a bite of my own. Surprisingly, it’s good. When I finish mine, Craig immediately holds out another one and I scarf that down as well. While I’m enjoying my treat, Craig takes the lid off a plastic storage container and sits it in front of Mac. I see it’s full of various nuts and some cut up pieces of fruit. He then opens the next container, which also has fruit, and sets it on the table before picking Bart up and setting him in a chair. Bart places his front paws on the table and digs in. I continue watching with a smile while Craig sets down a container for Gee and Loki. The little guy takes good care of his friends.

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