Page 74 of Darling Beasts

Her eyes popped. “Like the grouch.”

“Exactlylike the grouch.”

She nodded, and Ozzie fished around for her name. Hadley or Hailey. Something with anH.“What do you like to be called?” he asked.

“Beautiful,” she said.

“Same, girl.”

Ozzie watched as she placed four miniature teacups—pink-and-white-striped like the box—on four miniature pink saucers. She pulled out a teapot—also pink and white, and adorned with ladybugs—and a little pouch from her hoodie. In the pouch were fresh pansies, which she artfully arranged around the plates.

“Wow,” Ozzie said, legitimately impressed. “You have panache.”

“Parties need themes.”

“Period. Mind if I join you?”

“That would be great!” she said, beaming as Ozzie lowered himself to the floor. Leather pants didn’t have a ton of give, but he’d make it work. “No one ever wants to join me, especially not my brothers.” She glared. “They’re so gross and annoying.”

“Totally,” Ozzie said, sneaking a glance. They honestly looked pretty unpleasant, which wasn’t the nicest thing to say about kids who were in the single digits, but facts were facts. “You know, I’ve never been to a tea party, and I havetwosisters.” To be fair, they might not have had tea parties. Maybe Gabby, but definitely not Talia. She’d never sit still for that long.

“You’re missing out.” She poured from her teapot what appeared to be water. “Do you like anything else that’s fun? Adults usually only do boring stuff.”

“You’re so real for that, H. By the way, if you ever meet a dude named Barclay, run.”

H snorted. “Sounds like a dog.”

“You might be the smartest person in the world.”

“I’m the smartest one in this house,” she said and sipped her “tea.” “My mom always tells me that.”

“I agree with your mom. Speaking of fun things,” Ozzie said. Should he drink the water? Pretend to drink it? He wasbad with protocol in general. “Are you familiar withWinnie the Pooh?”

“Yes! I loveWinnie the Pooh!” Her eyes ballooned. “Do you know about the Pooh-seum?”

“I’m sorry, what? There’s aPooh-seum?”

“Yes! I’ve been there! It’s at Pooh Corner!” With each word, she grew increasingly excited, practically lifting off the ground. “My daddy took me before he had to go to the time-out place.”

“Oh. Right.” Ozzie frowned. “I’m sorry, that must be—”

“The Pooh-seum was amazing. It’s in England, right next to the Hundred Acre Wood.”

“No shit!” Ozzie blurted, and H fell backward in a fit of giggles. It was a little dramatic but also kind of cute. “Sorry, Aunt Kathy!” he shouted down the hall, in the general direction Kathy had gone. “Please ignore my poor language,” he told H. “I got excited because I have the original map of the Hundred Acre Wood.In my house.”

H stopped her flailing hysterics. “Really?”

“Yep. Maybe I’ll show you sometime.”

“Wow.” She sat all the way up. “That would be great.” She eyed him for a minute. “Are you really my cousin? You seem like a stranger.”

“We’ve met a few times,” he said. “But you were tiny.”

“Hmm...” She remained skeptical. “I’d definitely remember. I like your pants, by the way.”

“Yeah ya do,” Ozzie said, nodding. “I love a kid who recognizes drip.”

“You are the most interesting person in this entire family.”

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