Page 108 of Loco

“Sayla!” Kaida’s voice rang out like a bell.

She came barreling around the corner, her hair in two tiny puffs and a crooked sticker on her shirt. “Shwek’s there!”

Before I could respond, Kairo appeared behind her, clutching a piece of paper with scribbles and bright colors.

“Sayla, look! I drawed this,” he squealed, running over to show me, his little feet slapping on the hardwood.

I crouched down just in time to catch both of them—Kaida launching into a hug around my neck and Kairo bumping into me with his drawing, already talking over himself. “I drawed it for you.”

That soft, careful boy who used to watch everything like it might vanish was still there, but now he laughed more freely and talked without being asked. He was still serious in the way he looked out for Kaida, still attentive, stillhim—but he wasn’t holding back anymore.

And that nearly undid me right there on the floor.

I hugged them both tightly, breathing them in. They smelled like home—like apple juice and sunlight.

Roque appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms crossed and that small, crooked smile on his face. The one that always melted me a little.

“Hey,” he greeted, voice low and warm.

I looked up, blinking fast as I smiled. “Hey, it seems like they’ve been waiting for this.”

He nodded. “We all have.”

Kairo tugged on my hand. “See my room. I got a light with stars.”

Kaida was already pulling on my arm, too, nodding furiously.

I laughed and stood, letting them lead me through the house, now rebuilt into something better and stronger. Even if I didn’t live here,part of me always would because some loves didn’t need to be measured by walls or addresses. Some loves justwere.

It still fucking sucked, though.

I was still on the floor with the kids, Kairo proudly waving his drawing in front of me, and Kaida wrapped around my arm when movement in the hallway caught my eye.

Roque stepped out of the living room, and in his arms was?—

“Oh myGod,” I laughed, covering my mouth as I stood. “You got anew dog?”

Then I paused, narrowing my eyes as the squirming, curly-furred creature let out a high-pitched yip and wagged its entire body.

“Or… is it one of your dog-cats?”

Kaida, still hugging my leg, pointed helpfully. “Dog.”

From the hallway, a long, annoyedmeowsounded, followed by Dog's slow, dramatic entrance—slinking in like he owned the place and was very unimpressed with all of us.

Roque grinned and crouched, placing the squirmy fluff ball on the floor. The moment its little paws hit the hardwood, the puppylaunchedtoward me like it had already decided I was its person.

“Hi—oh!” I scooped it up just before it face planted into my shoe. The apricot-colored fur stuck out in every direction, soft and curly like someone had tried to brush it and gave up halfway. The puppy licked my face furiously, tail wagging so fast it was a blur.

I laughed, full and loud. “He’s adisaster, I love him.”

Roque stepped closer, hands in his pockets, eyes warm. “He’s going to be a therapy dog for the kids.”

I blinked, looking down at the pup nestled against my chest.

He nodded toward Kaida and Kairo, who were already trying to pet the puppy’s wiggling back legs. “Lynyrd and Skynyrd are great but set in their ways. They love the kids, but they’re not wired to track their moods or respond to emotional changes. I wanted something thatis. A dog that can be trained to recognize when the kids are overwhelmed or anxious, and help ground them.”

I looked back at the little dog in my arms. He had the softest eyes and the biggest paws, and he was a total baby. “What brought this on?”

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