Page 35 of Higher Notes

Fuck. My. Life.

“I’m sure Santa will see what a good boy you’ve been this year. So back to the room. I see a bunch of different stuff going on here. What’s your favorite color?” Knowing Sikes and Snipe both heard that, there was no way they weren’t getting the kids bikes whether for Christmas or sooner.

“Blue!” Nolan’s exuberant cheer rang throughout the room. “No, wait. Green!”

“What about you, bud?” I nudged Gabe’s shoulder. “How do you want to decorate your new room?”

“I don’t know. I’ll believe it’s true when my bed is in there.”

Yeah, the chip on his shoulder was gonna take some time to break down.

“Well, just think about it.” Snipe left it at that. His mind likely raced through all the things kids were into. Nolan wassimple and would be ecstatic with anything he got. We may not have much when it came to possessions but what we lacked in physical items was made up for with love and an appreciation for what we did have.

“Jase, why don’t you put a movie in for the kids while we get dinner sorted?”

“Good idea, Mom. All right, Gabe, let’s shut it down.”

“I can’t wait to have my own room and my own TV,” Gabe complained but ultimately did what he was asked.

“Who said you’re getting your own TV?”

“It’s the first thing I’m buying when I’m old enough to get a job.”

“So with your own TV you don’t eat or sleep? You just play games nonstop?” Wasn’t that what he’d insinuated?

Blink. Blink.

“That’s what I thought. Go wash your hands.”

Freaking kid. But I’d gladly reward him with a TV if he pulled his head out of his ass.

“Want us to order something?” Snipe whispered to me. “I know we did pizza last time. Any…” before he could say suggestions, the twins cheered.

“Pizza!”

“On it!” Snipe had his phone out and the pizza ordered before Nolan and Nicole stopped doing their pepperoni dance.

“Let’s clean up.” Sikes and Snipe helped them put the tubs of toys away and I decided to run the vacuum really quick. I hadn’t been around much and wanted to do what I could while we were here. Even had time to pack a bag for the week before the pizza arrived.

“Jeez, may not be so bad living with so many helpers.” It was great to see Mom smile again.

Sikes and Snipe had all three kids at the table with drinks when the pizza arrived. We worked like a well-oiled cohesive team.

We had this whole family-living together scene down.

With dinner done we said our goodbyes, headed back to the hotel and packed what was spread out across the room then called it a night.

“Fizzbo said we had use of the airline president’s club lounge and they’d board us last into first class.” Glad Snipe mentioned that because the amount of heads turning as we walked by increased with each step.

As soon as we got through security they called for a cart that delivered us to the lounge and out of the public eye. Wasn’t sure if I was getting recognized or if they were enthralled with the giant men flanking each side of me. Most likely it was them trying to guess who the man between the two guards was. Chaotic was basically still virtual nobodies but that was quickly changing.

“Wow, much quieter in here.” Hands down to the architects for adding noise-cancelling insulation. “How’d Fizzbo swing this?”

“He’s a magical man and has connections literally everywhere,” Sikes replied as he took the seat to my left and Snipe took the right. “It’s been a while since any of us flew commercial. We’ve been a bit spoiled riding in the Masterson jet.”

“Josh, Marley, Nigel, and I all flew commercial to Anaheim.”

“We were on the buses with Embrace. How quickly everything’s changed.”

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