Page 92 of Fate and Family

Penny stiffens and opens her laptop. “Oh.”

Alana leans back in her chair, twirling a pencil between her fingers. Her gaze could freeze a penguin. “I was supposed to get coffee with someone.”

Donny seems even worse now than he did on the ride over. He’s pale and keeps bending over. Right now, his hands are on his knees, and he’s taking a few deep breaths. “Oh shit. Did you like this guy?”

Alana remains emotionless. “I didn’t find him repulsive.”

“Can you reschedule?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’ve blown him off six times now. That was my last shot.”

Donny hobbles over to the wall and leans against it. He scrubs his face and addresses Alana. “So you’re pissed, your dress was ruined, and you lost a date with a guy you liked. Fuck, how can this day get any worse?”

“Lots of ways,” I mumble. “Where are the kids?”

Before I can get an answer, more people show up. It’s Katya and her team, but behind them are Izzy and Lance, who push their way to the front.

“Why the fuck did I get a text message from Phoenix saying, ‘Is everything okay? The kids aren’t here,’ followed by a second text message from Alana stating, ‘I’m on it’?” Lance’s voice roars.

Lance doesn’t get angry. I’ve seen him annoyed and even scared, but not pissed. It would be funny if I wasn’t doing everything in my power to keep from shitting myself.

Donny squeaks, “I thought you were on your trip.”

“Well, we’re not!” Izzy snaps, storming over to her brother. “One job, Donny. You had one fucking job.”

He slides to the ground and curls his knees into his chest. “Please don’t yell at me.” What the hell is happening in his brain? “I’m having a bad day.”

Izzy punches him in the arm. “You’re having a bad day? What about my son’s fucking day!”

Lance slams his hands on the desk. “Where are the kids?” The computer screens rattle, and a cup of pens tips over, scattering its contents everywhere.

Alana watches the rolling pens and then looks back up at her friend. She points over her shoulder. “The kids are in the back, eating ice cream, coloring, and watching that movie about Bruno with the all-in-Spanish song about two caterpillars who fall in love. Even though their future involves change, they need to move forward and will still love each other no matter what forms they take.” Alana blinks at Lance, who is as confused as I am. “It’s the one about the magic house.”

“That’s what ‘Dos Oruguitas’ is about?” Donny’s voice breaks, and his chin quivers. “That’s the saddest and most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” Whatever emotional resolve he had has vanished, and he’s straight-up crying on the floor.

Alana exhales. “You don’t speak Spanish?”

Izzy frowns and lifts her shoulders. “We only learned the curse words in each other’s home languages.”

Lance moves behind the desk to go in the back, but when Alana stands, he freezes. “You’re not going back there looking like that.” She motions with her finger. “Your shirt is buttoned wrong, and you’ve got icing in your hair.” Lance blushes and fumbles with his shirt. His boss appears unimpressed.

He coughs into his hand. “Um, we got distracted and hadn’t left for our trip yet.”

“Well, make sure you chill the fuck out before you talk to Drew and the other kids. Thiago is back there. And the doctor already checked them out.” The door behind her opens. “I’ll be back there in a few minutes.”

Her eyes drift to Katya and her team. I’m not sure if it’s a warning glare like ‘Stay the fuck where you are’ or if it’s ‘Oh I just noticed you’re here.’ Of course, it could be one of her ‘stay quiet and let me do my job’ glances. I’ve seen that one before.

Hadeon is flanked by his dogs, and with a word in Greek, they go scattering off down the hallway to the kids. This is mycue to leave. And then it hits me, only the men are running to get the children—the women still have work to do.

Hadeon, Lance, Duncan, and I jog until we hear music. We slow when Thiago steps from a room and puts a finger to his lips. From the hall, we can hear the kids talking.

Maria: “How come Ian was the only one who got hurt?”

Drew: “He probably said something to deserve it.”

Shae (loud and outraged): “That’s so mean! You’ve been a jerk to him for the last two weeks!”

Ian: “Whatever, it’s fine.”

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