“It’s nice to meet you all. Sorry for interrupting your...” Lola took a look around the room.
“We were getting ready for our fashion show.” Alex gestured to her frog towel cape and the rainbow scarf she was wearing like a belt. “All designs courtesy of Rosalyn Marie Inc.”
“You designed all of those outfits, Rosie?” Lola asked.
Rosie nodded with a proud smile.
“You’re really good.” Lola looked at Saint. “What about you? Where’s your outfit?”
“According to the boss—” he pointed at Rosie “—I’m the guy that takes pictures of the models.”
“That’s because Rosie knows there is no way she can make you look good enough to walk the runway,” Matteo said with a smart-ass smirk.
Saint gave him a blank stare. “You’re wearing a child’s church hat and aBackyardiganssheet like a dress.”
Lola couldn’t help but laugh. Matteo did look ridiculous. They all did, but it was cute that they didn’t seem to care one bit.
“Case in point,” Matteo said, “And I still look good as hell.”
“Yas, hunty,” Avery cheered. She lifted a hand and snapped three times.
Alex whipped a señorita fan out of her sash, flipped it open, and began waving it at Matteo like she was trying to cool him off.
Matteo began twirling and posing like he was really at a photoshoot.
Alex pulled out her phone to take pictures, following Matteo out into the kitchen where he jumped on the island counter, crossed his legs, and blew her a kiss.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” Avery began coaching. “Get it! Slay it! Work it!”
Matteo got more and more ridiculous while they all busted up laughing. Eventually he was on his back, resting on his elbows, with his chest popped out and head tipped back, one hairy leg bent coquettishly, and his socked feet pointed looking like a swimsuit model inSports Illustrated.
“That’s it!” Avery yelled. “That’s the one.”
“This is your new Grindr profile pic,” Alex agreed. She looked at the picture on her phone and made a face like she was trying to hold it together. She held it up for Matteo to see while Avery peeked over his shoulder. Suddenly they were all on the floor cracking up, piled on each other like puppies. Rosie jumped on the very top of the pile and joined in the laughter.
“So those are my cousins,” Saint murmured at her side. “I’d tell you that it doesn’t run in the family, but you’ve met my abuelo. You know it does.”
Lola smiled. “I love it.” It was clear that these three were very close and that Saint was very fond of them. She’d always wondered what it was like to be a part of a big family. Her mother had a bunch of siblings who had kids and grandkids, but she didn’t keep in contact with her family. Lola only knew of them via social media and that was only the ones who had public profiles. “I hope you know how lucky you are,” she told him.
When she turned to look at him, Saint was grinning down at his pile of family members on the floor. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I’m very lucky.”
The group finally separated and were now just sprawled all over. Alex looked at them upside down and Lola realized she had the same eyes as Rosie, Leo, and Papo Vega. “So, now that we’ve officially welcomed you to the nuthouse, why don’t you tell us what you’re doing here.”
Avery rolled onto her stomach and began kicking her feet in the air. Matteo followed suit.
“Yeah,” Matteo seconded. “Because we highly doubt you’re here for teacher reasons on a Saturday evening.”
“Lola is letting me help her find a new building for El Hogar to replace the one that got sold,” Saint told them.
At that they all shot to their feet.
“The shelter that helps the queer kids who get kicked out of their homes?” Matteo asked.
Lola tensed. She didn’t think any of them would say something offensive, but you just never knew. “Yes, the building got sold out from under us without warning and now we’re rushing to find a new place.”
“That’s such bullshit,” Alex exclaimed.
“Alex, language,” Saint scolded.