Page 20 of Swamp Kings 2

“I’m sorry,” Belle Eveque cut in quickly. “Can I ask you a question, Harold?”

He eyed her with his arms still crossed, then shrugged. “Go for it.”

“Doyouwant to hug Georgia.”

He regarded his wife then BelleEveque. “If shewantedhugs, yeah.”

“Okay let me ask this differently. Do you want to hug Georgiaregardlessof if she wants to be hugged, erase that part.”

He considered it for a few seconds. “I mean… I love touching her.”

Belle Eveque looked at Georgia. “And wouldyouwant to hug Harold?”

“Would I want to hug my husband?” she asked. “I would think yes since Iwantto do all the other physical stuff with him.”

“Okay, that’s good but just a note. Sometimes we might do those other physical things because we feel obligated.”

She shook her head real big. “That ain’t how I work, honey. If I didn’t wanna do thatotherthing, then I sure as hell wouldn’t.”

Harold nodded real big, confirming.

“I got me a swamp twin,” that Butterfly lady laughed.

“Heysis,” Georgia called out without turning.

“So final question,” Belle Eveque said, a hand aimed at each of them. “Big huge favor, you can call it a class demonstration for the rest of those needing it. Would you both be willing to stand up right now and give each other a hug?”

They both regarded each other, and Georgia shrugged. “Fine by me, it’s just adamn hug,” she muttered, like it was blown way out of proportion.

Belle Eveque stepped quickly back, giving them room.

Hurricane glanced at Claire after grabbing hold of her hand. Fuck, the frantic look on her sweet face. She surely had hugging issues, but he was working on those.

“Okay, who wants to hug first?” Belle Eveque asked.

They both looked at her, confused. “I thought that was like a duo job,” Georgia said.

“Me too,” Harold muttered.

“Oh, it can be,” Belle Eveque hurried. “But it can also be a one-sided thing. Where you have a hugger, and a huggee. Or the one being hugged,” she clarified with a little laugh.

“Ladies’ first,” Harold suggested.

Georgia side-eyed him and muttered, “Chicken shit,” while stepping closer. She eyed him for several seconds. “You want a straight-jacket or a hug?” she cried quietly. “Open your arms!”

The second he did, she moved in, hugging him tight while Harold’s arms remained up in the air like a fuckin’ zombie tasting brains for the first time andrealizing he might really like it.

Georgia released him and stepped back then opened her arms. “Your turn, dumbass,” she said, when he stared at her in confusion.

He went in, his towering height requiring him to bend his knees a little. He wrapped his arms around Georgia who wrapped her arms back then giggled when he lifted her off the floor. “Damn, you’re light.”

“Perfect, but don’t stop yet,” Belle Eveque said. “Georgia, how does it feel?”

“Well, it don’t hurt none.”

“Does it feel good?”

She eyed Harold. “I guess it does.”

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