Page 44 of Loco

“Okay, okay! But only if I get to sing, too.”

“Youhaveto sing,” she said seriously. “It’s the law.”

And just like that, the weight in my chest eased a little. For now, it was enough to be here—warm, safe, and wrapped in the arms of a kid who believedShrekwas the peak of cinematic genius.

Honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

Roque

“How are you holding up?” Evie asked quietly, her gaze following Elora as she played with Kairo and Kaida in the living room.

From the kitchen, the low murmur of conversation drifted toward us—our parents talking with Evie’s husband, Alex, along with his son, the sheriff, DB, and his wife, Tabby. We’d thought about introducing their kids, too, but it felt like too much. Kairo and Kaida had already been through enough. Meeting a house full of new faces might just push them over the edge.

I leaned back into the couch, the weight of it all settling in my chest. “It hit me last night, this is real. Kemble and Aislinn are really gone. And now I’m responsible for these two amazing kids who don’t fully understand how much their world has changed.”

“Son,” my dad’s voice came from behind us, making Evie jump slightly. He rested a firm hand on my shoulder as he stepped around the couch. “You just joined the best club in the world—it just happened in the worst way.”

He lowered himself into the chair beside us, eyes kind but heavy with the same grief I carried. “Losing Kemble and Aislinn… there’s no softening that. But they knew exactly who they wanted to raise their kids. They trusted you with that because they knew you’d give them everything.”

I managed a small, sad smile as Kaida picked up a doll and began chattering with Elora. Her voice was high and sweet, and she was entirely unaware of the storm they were in.

“I just wish they still had their real parents to guide them,” I murmured. “They deserved that.”

“You’re not doing this alone,” Evie said softly, her voice steady. I already knew it, but hearing it aloud helped more than I expected.

I let out a slow breath, running a hand over my face. “I don’t know how to be a parent,” I admitted, my voice low. “All I know is what I’ve seen other people do. Like this morning… I knew they had to brush their teeth and eat breakfast but after that?” I shook my head. “I didn’t know if there was something else they were supposed to do. Are they on vitamins? Do they use mouthwash? Do they eat something specific every day—like those weird yogurt tubes or dinosaur-shaped waffles?”

Evie smiled sympathetically, but it was Dad who spoke first.

“Roque,” he said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, “no parent knows what they’re doing at the beginning. Not really. We all start in the dark. And even when you’ve got more than one kid, each is different. You just adapt and adjust. You figure it out as you go and do it with love—that’s what matters.”

I swallowed hard, his words hitting me deeper than I expected.

Evie nudged my arm with her elbow. “He’s right. And if you need anything, you call me, okay? I don’t care what time it is. Questions, help, a break, whatever. You’re not on your own.”

I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. “I’ve got Sayla, too,” I admitted, almost hesitantly. I braced for some kind of reaction, especially from Evie, who was not only best friends with Sayla but also co-owned a business with her. I figured she’d either grill me or tease me to death.

But instead, Dad just smiled and said, “I like her. Always have.”

Evie actually squealed. Quietly, but still.

“Finally,” she whispered, grinning like she’d just won a bet. “I knew something was going on. I’ve been waitingmonths for one of you to admit it.”

I blinked. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad? Roque, please. She’s one of my favorite people on the planet. And shecaresabout you and the kids, that’s what counts. Honestly, I was starting to think you were both going to dance around it forever.”

Relief washed through me, lighter than anything I’d felt in days. For a moment, the uncertainty quieted. I wasn’t doing this alone. And maybe I didn’t have all the answers—but I had people in my corner—good people.

And somehow, that made all the difference.

The night was quiet,the kind of stillness that only came after a long, exhausting day. The porch light glowed softly above us, casting a warm circle that barely reached the edge of the steps. I stood there holding Sayla, my arms wrapped snugly around her waist like I didn’t plan on letting go anytime soon.

I’d texted her after the kids were finally down for the night—Kairo had asked for water three times, and Kaida had insisted her stuffed rabbit needed a pillow of its own. But eventually, they’d both drifted off. And now, here we were.

I told her everything—how the day had gone, the tiny wins, the unknowns, what my dad had said, and how Evie hadn’t even blinked when I mentioned Sayla. She listened quietly, the way she always did, asking soft, thoughtful questions that made it easier to breathe.

When I finally fell silent, she pulled away just enough to reach down and pick up a small tote bag she’d brought with her. She turned in my arms, setting it gently between us.

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