Page 80 of Judas

No.

Matias Cell

Oh come onnnnnnnnnn.

You’re supposed to be the cool uncle.

H

I’m your only uncle, go ask your other dad for his car if you want to get out.

Matias Cell

Fine. Get me yelled at by all three parents today, why don’t you.

H

Want to make it four?

Matias Cell

You’re not my parent.

H

Nope, but I raised you like you’re mine.

Now get lost. I’m busy.

Matias Cell

Bros for life?

H

And death.

Matias about shit a whole house when his ol’ lady tried to name their son Puta. That was a fight I sat back and watched with a whole buffet of snacks—everything from popcorn to Jolly Ranchers, even those nasty ass Taki things kids love. Oh, the Reeds cinnamon disks too, I still fuck those up. Apparently in Maori, it means ‘mythological person.’ Yeah, as in a son named Puta doesn’t exist for Matias. They settled on Etera Coatl Ayala. He’s cool as shit. Got his mom’s fight, Matias’s protectiveness, and Fuego’s intelligence.

Maybe I’ll introduce him to Sadie one day.

Pocketing my phone, I look back up to see Nadia and Sadie still sitting at the small patio table talking. Deciding that I’m done fucking around, I shoot away from the tree and make my way to them. Don't take me a few steps, a hop over the fence I can’t find the door to, and a brief walk before I’m invading their space. As soon as I step next to Nadia, I bend over and push a kiss to her temple. I’d do the same with Sadie but I doubt we are there yet. One day, though. To me, she’s been mine sincethe moment I learned about her—stalking your kid will make you love them just as much, if not harder, than having a normal relationship. The fact is, I’m a stranger to her and will respect her boundaries as she learns to accept me.

“Hey babygirl,” I murmur into Nadia’s hair before fisting the back of a chair and tugging it back away from the table enough for me to comfortably sink into. “Hope I’m not disturbing anything important.”

“We’re just catching up. A lot to talk about,” Nadia replies, lifting her drink to her lips. Still aggravated with me; something she will just have to get over. She swipes her tongue along the bottom lip and I refuse to stop myself from staring at the motion. Wishing she would do it again—parts of me remember exactly what those luscious pouts feel like.

“Yeah? I’d like to help, if you’re alright with that.” Looking at Sadie next, I raise a brow and give her a smile. “You good with that?”

“She’s not big on talking, listens mostly,” Nadia answers.

“I see. Maybe you should give her a chance to speak before talking for her or over her.”

Nadia bristles next to me, putting her cup down a bit harder than normal. Conceding quickly, I put my hands up in surrender and lean back comfortably in the chair.

“I apologize.”

“What is your problem?”

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