Page 35 of Aussie
Nails groaned. “I knew you’d say that.” He looked toward the kitchen. “The kids still need dinner. Jocelyn left stuff for macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, and green beans. But,” he added quickly, holding up a hand, “I vote that we skip the beans. I can’t handle any more poop.”
Ava laughed, rolling her eyes. “Deal. Mac and cheese and tenders it is.”
She walked into the kitchen and found a mop, some floor cleaner, and disinfectant. She handed it all to Aussie and Nails.
“You guys work on cleaning up the mess, and I’ll fix dinner. Oh, and make sure you check the front curtains. I think I saw some poop on it.”
With little resistance, the guys began their clean-up efforts, and she got to work in the kitchen. Thankfully, the smell faded to a faint memory as dinner took shape. About twenty minutes later, she set the table and called everyone to the kitchen to eat.
She looked up just as Aussie entered, cradling a now-sleeping Isadora in his arms. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the scene. He looked like a natural, with the baby resting against his chest.
She blinked, shaking herself out of her little reverie as everyone sat down.
As they started eating, Nails took a moment to thank her. “Thanks for coming, Ava. Really. I don’t know how we would’ve survived without you.”
But Ava couldn’t take her eyes off Aussie, who was eating while Isadora slept peacefully in his other arm. He looked relaxed, happy—even radiant, and it stirred something deep in her that she hadn’t felt before. Her mind wandered to images of him holding their baby in his arms, a thought that both thrilled and startled her.
Holy crap, where did that thought come from?
She looked away quickly and focused on the food on her plate.
Everything seemed calm as the kids whispered and giggled as they munched on their tenders.
That was until Amira, her cheeks smeared with ketchup, turned her bright eyes on Nails.
“Uncle Nails!” she piped up, her tone dangerously curious.
Nails sighed. He was already looking wary. “Yes, Amira.”
“Who was your lady friend that was with you last week at Bayside?” Amira asked, her head tilted like she was genuinely trying to solve a puzzle.
“What are you talking about?” Nails asked. Ava could tell he was clearly stalling.
“She wasn’t the same girl you were with on Halloween. You know the thick witch—”
Nails spoke up quickly, cutting off the rest of Amira’s sentence, and Ava wondered what the reason behind that was.
“How do you know they weren’t the same person?” Nails retorted.
Amira looked at him like he was stupid. “Because the Halloween one had really big boobs,” she declared, using her hands to emphasize the point.
Ava froze mid-bite, Christian choked on his drink, and Aussie had to cover his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing out loud.
Sienna, sensing an opportunity, jumped in with wide-eyed curiosity. “Do you have a lot of lady friends?”
“What?” Nails asked, looking frightened as two little girls were interrogating him.
“Do you like the one with the big boobs? Or the other one from Bayside?” Sienna asked as she leaned forward, her eyes wide with innocent wonder.
Ava covered her face with her hands, shaking her head, while Christian buried his face in his arms, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Aussie was trying his best not to jostle Isadora as he tried to keep his laugh to a minimum.
Nails’ face turned bright red as he glared at Aussie. “Are you gonna help me out here?”
“Not a chance,” Aussie said between gasps of laughter. “This is too good.”
“Why are we talking about this?” Nails groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Can we not?”
But Amira wasn’t letting up. “You gotta pick, Uncle Nails! Big boobs or Bayside lady?” Then, her little brown eyes widened as if she had an epiphany. “Or, what about Ms. Vanessa? The lady at the mini golf place who smiles every time you ask her to wash your balls. She nice and pretty.”
