Page 169 of Black Flag

I rolled my eyes. “Sodo Van and Emma,”

It was silent for a fewmoments while we ate our Brownie Batter and Cheesecake Brownie until Charliesighed. “So it looks like the little monsters are mine.”

“Really, I mean, didAndrea tell you?” I turned facing him grunting with the motion because the icecream was in fact taking up residence in some pretty inconvenient places, likemy hips.

“Yeah, at my lastappointment...when the doctors said...I didn’t have much time left.” His eyesfell to the ice cream container. “She kind of blurted it out on the way home.”

I nodded as the realityof losing my dad would soon hit home but like everything else, I tried to lookforward. Don’t be fooled though, I have a name for this, it’s called denial.

“Do the twins know?”

“Andrea said they’veknown all along.”

“Well, shit...” was all I said.

It explained a lot asto why the Lucifer twins acted the way they did. I was the same way growing up.Well, I hardly think I was that annoying but I could have been to others.

“I can’t believe I’m relatedto those assholes.” I rolled on my back with another grunt. It was as if Ithought the grunting helped me move easier. My hand reached down to my stomachwhen I felt the baby moving. Maybe he was sea sick from all my movements?

The corner of Charlie’smouth twitched into a smile. “You’re really starting to show now.”

I glared. “Thanks dad.”I set the ice aside. I needed to stop eating ice cream before I turned into theGood Year blimp.

“Can I?” Charlie askedmotioning toward my flailing spaz who was currently flailing around.

“Yeah, go ahead.” Itucked my hands behind my head.

“Have you guys thoughtof any names yet?” His hand gently touched his grandson.

“We talked the othernight on the phone about names but we didn’t really decide on one.”

His eyes light up.“Charlie is a good name,”

Before we couldcontinue; Lane, who flew out yesterday, came barreling into the room with Mr.Jangles. “Whoa buddy, careful there.” I told him reaching for Mr. Jangles.“You’ll throw your back out carrying him around like that.”

“What you feed him?” heasked in his little chipmunk voice, face turning red. I loved how three yearolds still left out words. I think I’ll cry the day I have a conversation withLane and he pronounces words correctly and doesn’t leave any out.

“McDonalds.”

Lane, much like hisdad, was like a real live windup toy after a half pint of Brownie Batter icecream. I just hoped his batteries would die soon. I would not be telling Alleyabout this either. She warned us before she left that he kind of goes crazywhen he has sugar but really, who doesn’t go crazy when they have sugar?Spencer is a prime example, give him a snickers and it’s like watching Mr.Jangles on cat nip. The only difference here would be that Spencer doesn’tcrawl around on his hands and knees. He saved that for when’s he’s drinking.

Hanging out with Lanewas fun although when I gave him a lollipop heaccidentallystuck it inmy hair during his animated recollection of how he beat Jameson last week atWii Tennis. This just confirmed my theory that the incorrigible Lucifer twinswere already corrupting him. Specifically when he cackled like Christopher LeeRay at me for having to cut a piece of my hair just to get the goddamn thingout.

Later that night,without a moment’s rest from the Lucifer twins and their partner in crime,Lane, Emma attacked me with wedding plans.

“Sway, we need to dothis.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “You do realize there are onlythree weeks until your wedding, right?”

“Seriously?”

“Yes...seriously, now pick a goddamn dressalready!” She yelled throwing the magazine at me. “I can’t plan a weddingwithout the dress.”

“I hate you.” Imuttered flipping through the ridiculous magazine. I finally settled on one andI couldn’t tell you what it looked like because I really didn’t care. All Iwanted was to marry Jameson and it didn’t matter to me if we were naked whiledoing it.

Now there’s an idea...Nah, not with thisbelly. Besides, your dad will be there andhimseeingyou naked is not an option.

Emma went on to explaineverything else she had planned for the wedding. I nodded picking at my nailpolish until she got to the twentieth activity.

“Hey asshole,” Iglared. “This isn’t a scavenger hunt. It’s a fucking wedding. What’s with allthe activities?”

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