” I will be back soon , ” I said when I answered ” No , it’s fine . I got someone in to cover you . I figured
you were concussed , but Zoe isn’t answering , and 1 am on tonight , and mum has hurt her knee again ,
so she can’t watch both girls . Can you and Valen please , please , come to get Casey for the night ?
” ” What do you mean Zoe isn’t answering ? Did you knock on the door ? ” Macey cleared her throat
before speaking i na hushed voice . ” I did , but I don’t think she could hear me over all the showering
sounds coming from the house , ” she hissed . I snorted . Who would have thought ?
” They are like damn rabbits . I have been u p there twice now , and I swear my ears are bleeding .
Anyone would think we are running a brothel with the noises leaving your apartment , ” ” What’s a brothel
, Aunty Macey ? ” I heard Casey asked in the background .
” Ah , a place where people get foot massages , ” Macey answers awkwardly . Valen chuckles but turns
the car around , hearing her . ” Yep , we are on our way now .
Meet us out the front , ” I tell her . ” Thank God , but you need to talk to her , ” ” Why do I have to talk to
her ? You’re the eldest ? ” I told her .
” Because I can’t say anything after what you saw the other day and don’t say you didn’t tell Zoe . I know
you did , and you’re the only one not getting la .. foot messages around here , ” Macey corrects herself . ”
Ah no , you talk to her , ” ” I will scissor paper rock you for it ,
” ” Fine deal , but don’t cry when I win , like I always do . ” Valen raises an eyebrow at me and shakes his
head . I say goodbye and hang up the phone . ” Are you two seriously going to fight over who is giving
Zoe the sex talk ? ” ” Yes , unless you want to do it ? ” I asked hopefully .
” Not a chance . Wait , what do I get for it if I do ? ” Valen asked , and I folded my arms . I was not
making any more deals with the devil , and I know he would pick his words wisely if I did , so I couldn’t
get out of it . W e pulled up out the front , and Macey was waiting out front with a bag for Casey .
” I chucked some of Taylor’s spare clothes in it for her , and school was canceled . I just got the
notification because of a covid case , ” I sighed and nodded . Damn pandemic . Macey buckled Casey in
, before stopping a t my window and holding her fist out .
I rolled my eyes , and we quickly played rock , paper , scissors while Valen laughed a tus . Macey fist –
pumped the air when her scissors cut my paper . ” No ! ” I cried . ” Sucker , I finally beat you , ” she said ,
doing a victory dance and shaking her ass at me . I shook my head in defeat .
” I expect a total reenactment of the cringingness of that talk and proper behavior in our hotel , ” Macey
said triumphantly . ” ” Fine , but you get the next awkward talk . ”
” No , way , the last talk still haunts me when I had to explain to both you girls the importance of pap
smears . ” ” } ” You could have just told us you didn’t have to diagrams and or reenact on our dining room
table . I haven’t looked at the table the same , and you owe me a desk , ” I tell her .
” If I have to give you girls awkward talks , I will be thorough . Valarie always said get your facts straight ,
and I did that , ” Macey said . ” We were mortified , ” ” Valarie thought it was pretty funny , even help me
do the diagram , ” Macey laughed . I chuckled . ” Damn , she sounds like a cool old lady ,
” Valen said , and both Macey and I froze , forgetting entirely about Valen and how casually we spoke of
his mother . 17 ” She was . She was a marvelous woman , ” Macey said with a sad smile . I nodded
before saying goodbye . ” Love you , Casey ,
” Macey called . Casey waved . ” Love you too , ” Casey retorted , blowing her a kiss . Valen drove out
and back onto the highway and Casey leaned forward in her seat . ” Look , Uncle Valen , I brought Trolls
. Aunty Macey said I could because it is your favorite , ” she said , holding up the DVD to show him .
” Uncle Valen ? ” I asked her . ” Hmm , Aunty Macey said he was your boyfriend and would marry you
one day . ” ” Did she now ? ” I asked . ” Yep , so that makes him my uncle , but if h e is my uncle , how
will I marry Valarian ? Wouldn’t that make him my cousin ? Though Taylor said she is and that I would
have to marry Uncle Fester from the Addams family , I told her na ah , I a m , ” Casey said .
I snickered , and I saw Valen smile as he glanced at her in the mirror . ” My boy is a lady’s man . ” I
smacked his thigh , and he grabbed my hand before I could pull it away . He kissed the back of it when
he lifted it to his lips , before keeping hold of it on his lap . ” So can we watch Trolls when we get to your
place ? ” Casey asked . ” Yes , we can watch it on repeat , if you like , ” I told her .
” Yay , Valarian is going to be so excited about our sleepover , ‘ ” ” ” Casey , you live with Valarian . Every
night is a sleepover , ” I chuckle . ” Oh , right ? I guess it is , ” she said , bouncing happily in the back of
the car . The drive was short , and I was looking forward to lying down .
Yawning , I stepped out of the elevator and followed Valen to his apartment . He unlocked the door , and
the first thing I could smell was pancakes . My brows furrowed , and I followed Valen i n with Casey , who
ran ahead . ” Ah , not trolls , ” I heard Valarian whine .
” Oh , where did you come from , little one ? ” I heard Kalen’s voice . Casey pointed to us down the hall ,
and Kalen walked over and looked at us . ” I’m Casey , and I came with them , ” ” Oh , you’re back . We
were making pancakes , ” Kalen said , before rushing back to the kitchen as he plated up . ” Pancakes
and ice cream for dinner , dad , really ? ”
” You never complained when you were a kid , ” Kalen told him . ” Want some ? I made heaps , ” he said
, pulling a huge tray off the stove . Valen shook his head .
” Why not , pancakes for dinner , it is ” Valen laughed . then , ” Kalen was dressed in a suit with a white
apron on and chef hat . He looked alien standing in the kitchen .
” And some for Miss Casey , ” Kalen said , handing her a plate . Both kids raced excitedly toward the
table with their plates . When Kalen shocked me as I walked to the sink , wanting to get a glass o f water
. He hugged me and pecked me on the cheek , while I remained stiff and still as a statue .
” Everly dear , so happy to see you again , ” he chirped . I looked at Valen , who shrugged and tried to
steal a pancake from the tray . His father smacked his hand with the egg flip . ” Let me plate it up the way
you used to like , ” he scolded , and I chuckled while Valen seemed to pout before stealing one .
” You rotten little sod , ” Kalen barked at him . ” Has no manners , Everly , anyone would think a
Neanderthal raised him , ” Kalen said , shaking his head , while making Valen’s pancakes with a choc
chip smiley face with two blobs of ice – cream for ears .
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda