Page 63 of Finding Romance
“Sure, kiddo. Let’s go get your bubbles,” Bray says as he scoops her up and carries her downstairs.
I lean in toward Carly. “I’m sorry, what?”
She bursts out laughing. “Oh God! I’m so sorry! Cam, Drew, you guys suck!”
Cam starts laughing and Drew just shrugs and turns to me. “We needed a code phrase for a blowjob and blowing bubbles made sense, except someone’s kid here had to be all like, ‘I’m the best at blowing bubbles.’ Anyhow, she was, but now it’s sort of an inside joke,” he explains.
“Oh, that’s uh…OK,” I say as I bite my bottom lip. I glance up and Kasen is watching me. I blush again and he leans down to my ear. “I think you are definitely the best at blowing bubbles.”
Now my face is on fire.
“What did Kasen just say to you?” Drew asks, his eyebrows rising with suspicion.
I’m saved by a screaming Ava who runs back up with her giant bubble wand. “I got it! Drew, you want to compete?” she yells.
Carly looks wide-eyed at Bray. “Did you just IV her with sugar?”
“Mom!” Ava yells. “Unca Bray gave me this!” She pulls out one of those straws filled with flavored sugar.
“Mystery solved,” Hutch laughs.
“Bray!” Carly scolds.
“She asked me for one the other day and I promised I’d buy it. She did do really good at school last week,” he says with a shrug.
Carly slaps her forehead. “I swear, you’re like the bad grandparent. Ava, sweetie, can you let me try it?”
“Sure, Mom. Here.” She hands her mom the giant straw. “Come on, Mr. Drew. I’m totally winning blowing bubbles today.”
“Yeah, Drew, show her your bubble-blowing skills,” Hutch teases.
Drew glares at him.
“Why do you guys always look so mad about blowing bubbles?” Ava asks as she yanks on Drew's hand.
“Mr. Drew is just really competitive about his bubble blowing,” Cam says with a smirk. Drew flicks her off once Ava turns around.
Cam gives him a big cheesy grin and Drew mouths, “You are so fucking dead later.”
She blows him a kiss and we all giggle.
Kasen pats the stool vacated by Ava and Bray. “Have a seat.”
“Pizza night!” Al declares, and with a few requests yelled, he orders us dinner.
Pizza night rolls into s’mores night and then one by one everyone heads downstairs until it’s just Al, Kasen, Margie, Roxy, Gray, and Aunt Cornelia.
“I have a few authors who asked about your work. Should I send them to your website to contact you?” Roxy asks.
I raise my eyebrows. We’ve been up here for hours and she just brought this up now!
“Of course! That’s great news. Thanks, Roxy,” I say.
She leans over and whispers in my ear. “Sorry, I should have started with that, but Gray and I were pre-gaming tonight and I think I’ve had three too many.”
“What’s that? You want to practice bubble-blowing with me?” Gray says with a smirk.
Roxy laughs. “Nice try,” she says. “We should head down though. It’s getting late.”
