Page 104 of Fate and Family

The kids all wave and talk over each other to say hi. Amanda smiles and chuckles a little. Behind her, almost blending into the background, stands a man in a black button-down shirt and jeans, his hair is perfect. He waves to the kids and is holding a bottle of water with his other hand. OH MY GOD! It’s Grae!

“I’m so sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet you today,” Amanda says as Grae takes a sip of his water.

Oh, I have that same brand in my apartment. Does this mean Grae and I shop at the same stores? It does. We’re best friends now.

Maria pipes in with, “We were kidnapped!” She sounds almost joyful to announce it.

Amanda’s smile vanishes as horror and shock wash over her face. Behind her, Grae starts coughing and choking, water shooting out of his nose and mouth. Well that’s disappointing. I think he just lost his most attractive man in the world award.

“At least I know how to drink water,” Dimitri whispers to me.

“Jesus Christ, are you guys ok?” Grae asks between coughs and gags.

Shae shrugs. “It’s no big deal. Aunt Alana came to get us.”

Amanda moves back from the camera. “She rescued you? With like a SWAT team, right?”

Drew shakes his head. “No, Specs was with her.” Specs? Is that Markus? Did he change his name? Or is it just a nickname?

Ian and Drew reenact the rescue. “Alana kicked open the door and started punching and kicking the guy who hit Ian. And that guy was all like, ‘No, please don’t hurt me.’” Drew pretends to be Alana while Ian cowers like he’s one of the men who is currently four floors away, probably waiting for the sweet release of death.

Amanda and Grae exchange glances, and he says, “Um, I don’t think the free T-shirts are enough. Maybe they should all get the hoodies or something.”

“We’re getting T-shirts!” Shae squeals. “I can’t believe it.”

Amanda gives her an apologetic smile. “Um, we heard this was for your birthday, so we got you cake and some gifts, but Grae’s right. you need more.”

Alana’s assistant steps forward with a tablet and an air of official power like she works for Mastodon. “I’ll have one of our guys come pick up the cake.”

Amanda gives an appreciative smile. “Thank you.” But she turns her attention back to the rest of the kids. “Um, do you have any questions?”

“Who’s Kiki?” I shout, and the entire room whips around to me. But Amanda can’t see me because I’m off-screen.

She laughs. “Kiki is an amalgamation of many women in my life.”

The kids boo, and Shae frowns as she counters, “You say that all the time.”

“We could’ve died today. I lost a tooth. We should get a real answer,” Ian says, and I swear to God I want to be this kid’s mother so freaking bad.

Amanda takes a resigned breath and says, “I can’t give you her name, but she’s a friend I used to have. I think about her all the time.”

Grae throws his hands up in the air. “Twelve years I’ve been by your side, and whenever I ask, I get the stupid amalgamation answer. Come on!”

Amanda shrugs. “But you didn’t almost die.”

“Yes, I did! Last year. I was drugged, in case you forgot. And thirty seconds ago, I choked on water. I could’ve dropped dead.”

Ian frowns and snaps his fingers. “If that had happened, I would’ve been one stamp closer to my trauma pony.”

Dimitri laughs under his breath. But Amanda doesn’t hear it and answers Grae. “If you’re too stupid to figure it out, I’m nottelling you.” She turns back to the kids. “Well, since this was for your birthday, would you like me to sing a special song for you?”

The kids huddle together, and I can’t hear what they’re saying, but once I hear a lot of agreeing, they turn around. “Yes, we want to hear ‘Yesterday Was a Lifetime Ago.’”

Good pick, that’s a deep cut.

Amanda’s face falls. “Um, that song is so sad, and I don’t play it in concerts, so the band hasn’t practiced that one.”

Grae slams both hands on her shoulders. It’s an action I’ve seen brothers do to sisters—not tender, more annoying. “I’ll help you.”

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