Page 31 of Delayed Penalty

“You two are all in love and shit. Should you even be in this club?” I ask.

Fox pokes his head around Locke. “I thought we established that we’re still a club, whether single or not.”

“Then how can we be called the SerpentsSinglesif we’re not single?” I ask.

“Just shut up and be happy you are even part of the club, new kid.”

“Hey, be nice, Lawson,” Locke says. “He’s not new anymore, and he’s not a kid either now that he has one. Sort of.” The veteran player turns his attention to me. “How is that going, by the way?”

“Yeah, you never called me back after you said you found a nanny.” Lawson pouts like he’s genuinely offended I never returned his call, and knowing him, he really might be.

“Wait, you found a nanny?” Fox asks.

I sling back my beer, already annoyed with all the questions, then nod. “I think so. I hope so.”

Idohope so. As much as I wish it weren’t Quinn given everything Bess has told me about her, I genuinely think she could help bring Flora back to life.Make her a normal seven-year-old who laughs and smiles and is a little wild. Not how she is now, quiet as a mouse and afraid of her own shadow, thanks to my brother.

“Who is it? Is she a babe?” Lawson asks. “I mean, I’m super in love with Rory, so I’m asking for you, not for me, just so we’re all clear.”

“More like so Rory won’t feed you your nuts for breakfast.” Keller smirks. “Though I do love the idea of her doing that.”

“First of all, that’s rude.” Lawson looks to me. “Second, is she a babe?” I scowl at his question, and he laughs. “Oh, so sheishot.”

“I never said that.”

He points at me. “Your face just did.”

I smack his hand away. “No, it didn’t.”

“It kind of did.” Locke shrugs. “You got all scowly like Hutchy gets when people bring up Auden.”

“Yeah, because she’s?—”

“Mine” we all say at the same time.

“We know,” Keller adds. “It’s not like we’re hitting on her or anything. We’re just saying she’s got a great?—”

“I swear to fuck the next word out of your mouth better not be rack, or you’ll be eating your teeth.” Hutch glowers at Keller.

“Personality,” he finishes. “We’re impressed she’s so down to earth, being a billionaire and all.”

Lawson whistles lowly. “Wow. Okay. Anyone else just get a little tingly watching Hutchy go all caveman just now? I’m starting to get why women love that.”

“Fucking hell. Please stop talking, Lawsy.” Locke shakes his head, downing his beer, then lifting his hand for another.

“So, back to my question…” Fox clears his throat. “You found a nanny? Or at least hope you did? What does that mean?”

“We’re doing a trial run. She’s with Flora right now.”

“Oh, a trial run. That’s a good idea.” Fox nods. “Anyone we know?”

I shake my head. “Nah. You know that bakery I go to all the time out by my house? It’s the owner’s daughter. She was in a pinch, I was in a pinch, and Flora seems to like her, so…” I lift my shoulders.

“Wait. Do you mean that chick who made your coffee wrong, and you wouldn’t stop complaining about her and her weird cats-in-pajamas earrings and how someone with that great of an ass shouldn’t wear something so stupid?”

I want to roll my eyes just thinking of Quinn and her ridiculous earrings. They’re bizarre and don’t evenkind of match her outfits, but somehow, they still make perfect sense for her.

“It wasn’t cats, it was goats, and yeah, that’s her.”

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