Page 49 of Backstage at the Freak Show
“I dunno.” I leaned against the counter, looking at the two of them together. “He has your eyes but I think he looks more like Mel.”
“He’s got her hair, for sure.” Connor ruffled the downy, dark strands with a big palm. “And those damn eyelashes, Jesus!”
“Hey, where’s the popcorn?” Raz bellowed from the other room. “We’re waiting on you guys!”
“Worthless husband,” I rolled my eyes as I headed in with the bowl of buttery perfection. “Where’s Arjun and the littles?”
“Right here.”
The big tiger shifter strolled in from the adjoining den, which he had turned into a workout room. Well, as well as one could stroll in with a child clinging to his back and two more around his legs.
“How’s weightlifting been?” Connor snickered, preparing Mason a bowl of baby food while I settled with Raz, my pups, and our popcorn.
“Excellent,” Arjun huffed, wiping sweat from his brow. “Why, it feels like I’m still lifting weights.” He placed his hands on his hips, paying no mind to Mel’s youngest siblings trying their best to hold in their giggles as they dangled off of him.
“Hm, wonder why that would be.” I mused, stealing popcorn kernels from my daughter, who growled at me.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” Arjun sighed. “Well, I’m off to shower—”
“We’re right here!” Bella cackled, unable to contain it anymore.
“What?!” Arjun feigned shock as he made a big show of looking down at her, then at Riley clinging to his other leg. “Areyouthe reason why my legs are so heavy?”
“And Joey’s on your back,” Bella informed him.
Arjun whipped around, making Joey laugh and scream like he was on the rollercoaster of his life, until Arjun slowly slid him down.
“Can we ride on Arjun too?” Rinna started climbing over the back of the couch.
“Not tonight, honey.” I pulled her back down. “Let’s watch the movie.”
“Tomorrow, my little wolfling.” Arjun bent over the back of the couch and kissed her forehead. “I’ll need your help with my deadlifts.”
“Okay!” She plopped back down happily, narrowly missing the bowl of popcorn.
“Can we be wolflings too?” I heard Joey ask behind us.
“You’re my tiger cubs!” Arjun answered without missing a beat. “You’re big and fierce like tigers, grrr!”
He chased them around the room, encouraging them to growl and snarl like him until they collapsed on the far end of the couch.
“You guys want popcorn?” I passed the bowl down to them.
“They’re exhausted,” Raz chuckled. “Probably need something to drink. Arj knows how to tire them out.”
“Already got it.” Connor walked in, somehow carrying Mason, Mason’s food, a beer, and three child-sized plastic cups which he set on the coffee table in front of the TV. “Have some juice, kiddos. And help yourselves to popcorn.”
Bella, the bravest of them, slid off the couch first and grabbed a cup to drink from, followed by Joey, who helped Riley, the youngest. Arjun took off to shower, so us three guys all exchanged a satisfied look. We knew Mel’s youngest siblings wouldn’t be affected by their old home life as much as Mel and Jeanie. There may even come a time where they barely remembered it. But it still felt incredible to see them coming out of their shell, hanging out with us and trusting us a little more, bit by bit.
They trusted Connor the most, since he was the one who took them away from the shelter, once Jeanie escaped with them from the trailer park. After Connor, they gravitated most toward Arjun, and seemed most wary of me and Raz.
“Thank you for sharing your popcorn,” Bella mumbled shyly.
“You’re welcome,” I beamed. “I’ll make another bowl if you want.”
Roo leaned across Raz’s far side. “Do you want to watch a movie with us?”
“Yeah!” Riley was already crawling across my and Raz’s laps to sit next to him.
