Page 83 of From Angel to Rogue

“Don’t say you forgot me now that you got new friends, little fella,” my brother’s voice hollered from behind me.

Luka blinked at the apartment, like he was looking at something so big and wonderful for the first time in his life. His eyes rounded like saucers when they landed on Matty.

“Mr. Matty,” Luka squealed, and Lan smiled warmly, letting him down. He ran to Matty whose big frame swallowed up little Luka.

“Hey, little fella, how are you?”

“Good, Mr. Matty.” Luka smiled. “I’m going to be living with my friends, Katiew and Lawndon, and they told me I get to see you and Sira every day.”

Matty nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Sierra will be here soon to see you. We brought you presents for your welcome party.”

“Party?” He blinked, his long, dark lashes curling with the motion.

“Yes for you.”

“I’ve never had a party before,” he whispered, his eyes dashing to me. “Will there be chocolate milkshake, Katiew? I like them.”

“Of course, Luka,” I said, forcing myself to remain composed and not turn into a mush on the floor. “Why don’t we go see your room before everyone else gets here?”

“Okay,” he mumbled.

Lan and I took each of his hands, while I handed Matty my phone to take pictures.

“You ready, buddy?” Lan asked with a grin, his one hand on the half-closed door.

“Yes,” Luka said in such a serious tone, like he was going to war or something.

Lan chuckled, opening the door farther. “Welcome to your room.”

Luka’s eyes widened so big that I was scared they might bug out of his head. Complete awe filled his face as he took in his yellow room, with the mural like it was straight out of The Lion King, with every possible animal.

We made his bed with the same soft yellow bedding with too many pillows and animal plushies.

I didn’t know what kind of toys he liked, so I filled an entire basket with every toy for a six-year-old. I even added some coloring books and crayons to his tiny desk with all the materials his school sent over.

Luka would be attending a local private school starting this Monday, and that was making me a whole different kind of nervous.

I also added a big welcome home sign with a bunch of glittery animal-shaped balloons.

Lan came to my side as we both watched Luka look at every detail in his room, his wide eyes unblinking as he took in everything.

“Do you think he likes it?” I whispered to Lan.

“I’m sure he will, angel.” Lan flashed me a smile. “Stop worrying.”

I don’t think that was something I could ever do again, now that Luka was here, I felt all my motherly feelings burst inside me. I think I was always going to worry about this boy, no matter what.

“Luka, do you like your room?” I asked, five minutes later, when Luka’s eyes finally landed on me after he finished his little exploration.

“Yes, Katiew, I love it. I have never had a room this big before,” Luka said, red splotching his cheeks. “Thank you.”

I smiled. “Do you like the color? I don’t know your favorite; we can change it if you like.”

“I don’t know what my favorite color is.” He tilted his head, frowning. “I don’t really have favorite things.”

My heart squeezed.

I bent to his eyesight. “How about you and I figure out all your favorite things so you don’t have to worry about that anymore?”

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