Page 63 of Napkins and Other Distractions
“Here, Poppy.”
She hands a piece to Kent. It has glasses, a gray beard, a kind face, and a sweet smile. She couldn’t have picked a more perfect match.
“Oh my, do I look like this?” Kent holds the head up.
“Exactly,” I say, with a wink.
“Let’s find one for Vincent,” Kent says.
“Okay! I’m a good head picker,” she says. Kent and I share a smile, and maybe if I’m surrounded by LEGO, children aren’t so terrible.
“Here!” she shouts, holding it up for our inspection. The head has a snarky smirk and furrowed eyebrows. It’s almost like it can’t decide if it’s worried or carefree.
“Perfect,” Kent says, winking at me. “Now, let’s find hair.”
“That will be easy for you, Vincent,” Lia says. “You don’t need any.”
She giggles, pausing her trek to the massive bin of hair pieces to bend over with laughter and relish her own joke.
“I think she likes you,” Kent says as we follow a few feet behind her.
I hold my mini-fig head between my thumb and index finger and show him. Mini Vincent smirks with crooked brows.
“Really?”
“She’s teasing you. That’s her love language.”
We stand behind Lia as she turns over what appears to be thousands of pieces of plastic hair, taking the entire place in. “I think LEGO is my love language.”
“Noted.” Kent bumps his shoulder on mine.
With our mini-figures intact, we explore the rest of the center. When we board the Kingdom Quest ride, climbing into a LEGO-themed cart on a track, we’re handed small plastic pink and purple guns. The voiceover instructs us to shoot to save the princess, but when we enter the harsh darkness of the main area, Lia climbs into my lap and cuddles into me.
“Are you scared, sweetheart?” Kent asks.
“Oh, I thought you were Poppy,” she says, her sweet breath on my chin.
“I’ve got you,” I say, wrapping my arms around her small body and holding her close. Her tiny frame in my arms must be the most precious and delicate thing I’ve ever held.
The room comes to life with treasure chests that open and various other moving targets for us to fake shoot. A screen shows clips of the story. Something about a kidnapped princess, and even with the manufactured drama, the change in lighting seems to settle Lia. She turns around but stays firmly on me, her weight providing pressure on my torso that’s oddly soothing. We shoot at skeletons, spiders, and various animatronic creatures, Lia never leaving the protection of my lap.
After saving the princess, we disembark and head to the vast open building area. Inside the room, there’s a towering LEGO tree that stretches all the way to the ceiling, adorned with hidden nooks and crannies showcasing incredible creations.
“Vincent, look!” Lia tugs at my hand. “A unicorn.”
I kneel to see what the fuss is about, and a princess, queen, or someone who looks vaguely royal and important sits atop a white unicorn in the hole Lia’s spying.
When I spot a massive building table covered in LEGO mountains, excitement builds inside me. Eager to create, my fingers twitch. “Let’s go build.”
Holding all three of our mini-figures, Lia tells a story. When I kneel to watch closer, Kent rests his hands on my shoulders, gently kneading as we listen.
“Let’s go to the LEGO center for Vincent,” Lia says, doing her best to imitate Kent’s deep voice. “Vincent loves LEGO, and I love Vincent because he’s my boyfriend. Even though I said he was my friend. But Mommy said boyfriend.”
Kent’s fingers massage my shoulders, and I can’t help but smile at Lia’s ability to perceive what’s growing between her grandfather and me. Does Kent love me? He certainly loves parts of me. Sharing meals even though I always order the same thing. Cuddling and kissing. What I did to his cock with my feet last night. His finger exploring my ass. Having me suck him off. But me? All of me? I’m not sure if anyone’s capable of loving me entirely.
“And I love you,” Lia says, changing her tone to a slightly less deep tone, her attempt at … me. “And LEGO, and now I might think I love Lia. She’s a nice little girl.”
A laugh escapes my lips because this sweet child, who adores her grandfather beyond measure, simply wants me to love her.
