Page 44 of The Champion
“How would you know when you’ve never been with any women but me?” Shelly teased Marco.
“You’re right, maybe I should take the opportunity while we’re visiting France to have sex with different women.”
“Dad, that’s gross,” Ada protested.
“No, it’s fine. Go ahead but be sure you pick the ones with the least make-up so you don’t confuse them with rainbows,” Shelly said dryly. “And while you’re at it, would you take some notes so we can both learn from your experience? I’ll do the same when I go gather research with the French men.”
Marco pulled Shelly under his arm and muttered low. “Yeah, that’s not fucking happening.”
With an apologetic smile, Ada muttered to me and Shiva. “Our parents are weird. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I feel right at home here,” I assured her.
Once we reached the Exploration Headquarters, Shiva introduced us to his team members, who were working on packing a large drone.
“This is Bianca, Aristotle, Beowulf, and Bjorn.”
The four Explorers were all dressed in a green slim-fitting uniform that emphasized their toned, strong, bodies.
“We’re the first group that was trained at the academy and whenever a new team comes over, we give them shit. When we first arrived at the academy there was nothing but a muddy field. They think they had it hard, but we fucking built our own toilets and showers.”
“True, but at least Aubri wasn’t as mean when we were there,” Aristotle said and instantly seemed to remember that I was related to her. “Oh, sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know my cousin can be tough on her recruits. Her pregnancy has been hard on her but at least it’s a one-time thing. Aubri always wanted two children and with her and Indiana having twins, one pregnancy will do.”
“Good for her.” Shiva gestured for us to follow him. “While my teammates do the heavy packing for our mission tomorrow, I’ll take you five on a tour in one of our other drones.”
We had taken a few steps, when Beowulf cleared his throat, “Ehm… actually, would it be okay if I got an autograph?” He was looking down and it was fun to see the large, bearded man acting so shy.
Marco seemed used to it and assured the man, “Don’t worry about it, Shelly is happy to give you her autograph. People ask her all the time.”
Beowulf lowered his brow. “No, I was talking about your autograph. I have all your books and I’m re-readingLost in the Galaxyfor the fourth time at the moment. It’s amazing.”
Marco’s baffled expression morphed into a smile. “You’ve read my books?”
“Yes. Several times.”
“Wow, I’m honored.”
The rest of us walked to the other drone and climbed on board while Marco signed one of his books that Beowulf had been holding behind his back.
When we were all buckled in, Shelly stuck her head out the door of the drone and called to her husband. “If you’re done having your ego stroked, we would like to get going.”
Marco came in with the happiest smile on his face and sat down next to Shelly. “Wait, why is Ada up there?” he asked when he saw his daughter sitting next to Shiva.
“Because she’s a little smitten, I think,” Shelly said as if it was no big deal.
Marco went from happy author to protective father in the blink of an eye. Leaning closer to Shelly he whisper-hissed, “He’s much too old for her.”
“Maybe she has daddy issues,” Shelly teased.
“Not a fucking chance. Ada doesn’t have daddy issues.” He spit out the last two words.
“Then maybe she just appreciates a handsome man when she sees one.”
“You think Shiva is handsome?”
Shelly looked him square in the eyes and smiled. “Very.”
