Page 72 of Rex

“Nope, not happening. I’m a big boy now and can make my own plate,” Chubs responds while moving in like a cheetah getting ready to pounce.

Aria moves fast and puts herself between her brother and the table. I have a moment of doubt about her intelligence level but shake it off and place my shoulder next to hers. Instead of helping us out, Reeves and Horse quickly refill their plates and move a fair distance away. Rat bastards!

Marti looks stunned when she finds herself facing Chubs down, and she’s the closest to the food. She slowly holds one hand up, uses the other to slide a second piece of pizza onto her plate, and then slowly backs away. Smart lady. She’s probably been bitten before and learned her lesson.

Hearing an oink, I’m momentarily distracted by Gee’s appearance in the doorway along with his best friend, Snots.Both enter, noses in the air, sniffing the scent of food. Probably exactly how Chubs entered the building.

“Are the nachos going to be enough to fill you up?” Aria asks quietly.

“Yeah. Want me to grab you another slice before he dives onto the table?”

“Please. Don’t care what kind. Whatever is easiest to get to,” she replies, hand still in the air aimed at her brother’s face.

I whirl, grab the first slice I see, and toss it onto her plate. Grabbing the plate and my container of nachos, with my back to the wall, I slide away from the table.

“Got it. Run,” I say, and Aria bolts out of her brother’s way as he lunges for the table of food.

“That was a close call,” Aria breathes out.

“Why do you keep putting yourself in these food situations with him? You know better,” I chastise as we move quickly to my desk area.

“She’s been away from him for too long. Forgot the injuries caused by being trampled,” Horse states.

Things quickly settle down now that Chubs has free range of the food. Marti sits on the floor in the corner, sharing her food with the dog and the pig. Gee’s wearing a t-shirt today that reads: “Every Butt Needs A Rub.” Obviously, Pooh got to him before Chubs today. Horse and Reeves continue hiding behind my desk to finish their meals while Aria sits on the edge of it, grinning at her brother’s enthusiasm. I realize now is the perfect time to speak with Chubs about his sister and me.

“Chubs, can I have a moment?” I ask as I approach the table where he’s sitting.

“Can I eat first?”

“I have work to get back to, and you’re not going to be done for a while, as we all know. It’ll only take a moment, I promise,” I state.

“But it’ll get cold,” he responds.

“Has that ever stopped you before?” I ask skeptically.

“No. But I—oh, hi, Lucy! What are you doing here?” Chubs asks as I turn to see Lucy walking through the doorway.

“I was on my way to the shop with your lunch and saw your bike,” Lucy answers as she sets two very large bags on the table. “Glad to see you got a snack in the meantime. There’s another bag in the car for Snots and Gee.”

“I’ll grab it,” Horse says while tossing away his plate and leaving the room, pig and dog on his heels.

“Hey, Lucy. What did you bring him?” Aria asks with a grin.

“Don’t tell her anything, my love. She wasn’t even going to let me have a snack. Mom would be disappointed in how selfish she was being,” Chubs states while tossing Aria a smirk.

“You poor thing,” Lucy murmurs while dropping a quick kiss to Chubs’ temple.

“Poor thing, my ass. Poor us is more like it. Every time he shows up and there’s food nearby, it’s like the start of the gladiator games. Might win, might lose a limb or two,” mutters Reeves.

“I dare you to get even, Reeves. Grab a bag and run. Bet you fifty bucks he’ll cry,” Aria says in a goading tone. “Or are you scared?”

“Scared and too smart for that. Tried it once, and he tracked me down like a bloodhound. Still have the scars to prove it. Ohhh, but wait! Horse isn’t that bright! Let’s bait him into it!” Reeves suggests.

I roll my eyes at Reeves and try again to get Chubs alone for a moment, but Lucy has all of his attention. Well, Lucy and the food. I ignore Horse when he returns and continue trying to get a second with Chubs. Not listening to the other people in the room, I’m not prepared when Horse falls for the bet.

“Thanks for dinner, Lucy!” Horse shouts as he grabs one of the bags she came in with and bolts out the door.

“Be right back, my love,” Chubs says before vaulting over the table, slamming full body into me as he goes in pursuit of Horse.

---