Page 94 of Twisted Wings

We watch as our friends pile in the house. It’s hard to believe the changes in all our lives over the past eight years. The kids outnumbering the parents. That’s always a bad idea.

Addison waddles up to us, staring up at Aiden. “Hey, do you think you can help me wrangle Mason before he pulls out his penis and does wall art?” I burst out laughing. Their two-year-old son is a hellion, but this is a new talent I hadn’t heard of. “He’s very proud of his art,” she says sarcastically.

Aiden walks away shaking his head. Lulu strides up to me, taking his place, and wraps her arms around me. “Hey Uncle Max.”

“Hey, Lulu.”

She rolls her eyes and huffs. “Can you please stop calling me that? I’m not a child kid anymore.”

I bite my lip to stop from laughing. “Sorry, I forgot, you’re a tween.” I extend the last word for emphasis. Witty little girls are funny, witty big girls are a pain in the ass. But she’s still my favorite.

“Can you talk to mom?” I glance down, tilting my head wondering what she’s wanting me to talk Addison into. “Aunt Syd said I could sing with her on stage at the concert next month if mom says it’s okay. I bet you can guess what she said.” She sighs.

“You know I can’t change your mom’s mind. Why won’t she let you?”

“She says it’ll go to my head being this young and I’ll lose sight of my priorities.” She attempts to mimic Addison’s voice.

I bob my head. “It’s statistically true.”

“That is a bunch of crap. I already know how good I am, how much more could it go to my head from being on stage?”

I chuckle at her lack of humbleness. “Obviously not a lot. Maybe that’s the problem.”

She stomps away angrily. “I thought you wanted what was best for me,” she snaps over her shoulder before slipping outside. Shit. I don’t look forward to these years.

“Wow. You made someone angry,” Sydney says coming from the kitchen. She blows her hair out of her eyes and then wraps it up in a bun. “Man, those five-year-olds are crazy for slime.”

My eyes widen. “Between pee on walls and slime, we’ll be cleaning for days.”

“Pee? Who peed on the wall?”

“Nobody. Yet. Well, I hope. And Lulu, was already angry. It wasn’t me,” I say, holding my hands up. “She really wants to sing with you next month.”

“I know, I feel bad. I shouldn’t have said anything to her before talking to Addie.”

Pulling her into my chest, I say, “Can we keep Ember five forever?”

“I wish.”

Jett comes running out of the kitchen with Ember on his tail. “Jett, wait. You’re supposed to give me a birfday kiss.” They disappear out the front door.

My mouth drops open. What the fuck just happened? My gaze jumps from Sydney to the door and back to Sydney. She laughs like what just happened was amusing. It wasn’t.

“That’s so cute.” She beams.

“Cute? Fuck that. Aiden!” I scream, storming out of the room. “Aiden!”

“He’s outside with Mason,” Addison says, holding a blob of bright pink slime in her hands.

I spin in place and take long strides outside. “Dude, you need to keep your son away from my innocent little girl,” I snap when I see him sitting on the tree swing. Aiden bursts out laughing, his gaze behind me. I whip around and watch Ember tackle Jett, giving him kisses all over his face.

“Brother, you are in trouble.”