Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,35

the people that visit them.

I nod. “They can move around now. Alejandro, Micah and Bailey didn’t want to be held when they could crawl then walk. Daniel liked seeing everything like Wheeler. He would let me hold him until the other babies were around, then he wanted to be with them,” Garren says almost exactly what I was going to say.

I nod. “Daniel was weird watching everyone if the babies weren’t close.”

Web laughs. “I didn’t know the As as babies. I bet they were like that. Caelan watches everyone too. I always think it’s weird.”

“Seren said Ajhil can bring Caelan. He’s coming with Ant Irma and Rex tonight. They’ll see the babies then come to the pool and eat with us. Seren is getting the food delivered right to the pool.”

Michael hits Garren’s arm. “Babysit.”

Garren nods. “Me and Michael are babysitting the Rs for Freedom tonight and tomorrow.”

Web looks surprised. “That’s good, Brother. They could use some time.”

Garren nods. Michael’s eyes and face look proud. I smile at them both. “Did Michael ask you about Colorado?”

His smile makes me smile. “Yeah. Alder may show with the Sweden and Finland Bits too. We have our own room and they don’t need a babysitter.”

That’s so good. “I’m glad, they’ll be able to show me around, I didn’t want to mess up your plans.”

His eyes focus on me. I know he’s only seeing me with that look. I shiver and those focused eyes are on a smiling face. “My plans are safe. They’ll hike while we’re at the waterfall, be at the lake when we hike and sleep in their own rooms while we’re in ours.”

Garren shakes his head and I laugh. I already know what he’s going to say. “Not the sex again.”

I touch his arm. “Nope. No sex talk. You figured that’s what he was saying. He never said a word about sex.”

He looks surprised then shakes his head. “I’m too smart like Hamp. I won’t talk the words either.”

I nod. “Good plan,” Web says smiling at me. I shiver again. The babies are walking or holding our hands to walk. This is the quietest nursery I’ve ever seen. “How was lunch?”

“Mean people.” Michael surprises me, he doesn’t say much when I’m around.

Now Web’s eyes are mad. “People were mean to you?”

Michael and Garren nod with their whole heads. I shake mine. “He was getting ready to be mean. Brad was right there and I made the guy smile so he took the out and left.”

He smiles. I’m going to be exhausted trying to keep up with the ups and downs. “Good job, Lexi. I’m glad you thought to use humor.”

I shake my head. “My brain was racing. I couldn’t really think. I started talking and he smiled. It was enough to relax everyone and he left.”

Now he laughs. Men are crazy, Stella is right. It was scary and he thinks it’s funny. Garren’s eyes are huge when he looks at me. I shake my head and shrug. I don’t get it either.

“Shoot feet.” Michael sounds set on that.

I smile at that. “You can’t go around shooting everyone’s feet because they’re mean, Michael.”

Michael starts nodding so of course, Garren does too. “Boss Danny say shoot feet.” Michael is set on that.

I look at Web, he’ll fix it. I don’t know Boss Danny. He must be a scary biker if he shoots everyone’s feet.

Web is shaking his head no. “He’s old and says weird shit. He does weird shit. You don’t shoot people for being mean. If they touch you, you can shoot your laser at them. Talking isn’t hurting you. You’re all amazing and you know it. What do you care if they don't? They’re mean and don’t deserve your time.”

I like that and nod. “That’s true. New people in the unit said mean things about me. They don’t know me and I worked for the FBI way longer than they did. I didn’t care and knew who to stay away from. Marks said they were jealous that I gave them work and fixed their work when they messed it up or got stuck. They never said mean stuff when I fixed their work. They were nice to me. They only say mean things to feel good about them. That’s sad. That means they don’t know they’re good and don’t need to be mean for people to see that.”

“‘Cause mean people are stupid. They’re tools.” Garren makes me laugh. I nod for him and smile at Web.

Web laughs. “They are. They