Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,63

sees me shiver.”

She laughs. “Maybe I should show Jordan and Brinks the storage closet.”

“I wouldn’t. You’re not sure. That means you don’t have the information you need for it to be right in your brain. Hannah said Trask still has her thinking crazy. Télia said that about Ford too. If you start unsure, you’ll have a million questions that you're afraid to ask. If you’re sure, you won’t have a problem asking Jordan and Brinks those questions. I asked the women first, then Web all the other questions without feeling stupid. That’s how I knew it was right with him.” I open the door with her name on it. “They put your name on it today. It’s yours.”

“Thanks. You’re good with the advice. I’m full of questions I’m afraid to ask. The women here are with one man. How the fuck do they know what to do with two?”

I shrug. “I don’t. Who knows about two men? The architect guy that shoots feet. Probably his wife would be better. Justice has two dads. He would know. He explains stuff. He helped me to move here. He’s easy to talk to.”

She nods. “I’ll ask. My mom is coming. Maybe Jess will come back. I’m going to call. Aubrey knows too. She’s with Jeremy and Jacob. I’m asking. Thanks, Alexia.”

She hugs me then closes her door. I’m smiling because she hugged me like family. I like family. I bet she’s going to ask right now. Poor Stella. The women pick at her, but they only have one man. She’s never been with anyone. Two must make it harder to think than Web is for me. That’s hard. Two must make her want to hide in the closet. I smile sitting at my desk. I haven’t done that here once. It’s good to have family and Web. Everyone takes care of us all.

~*~*~

Web

I hear voices when I walk in. One is the chef. The other is Stella. I follow to the kitchen and smile. “It smells good.” I kiss Alexia’s lips and Stella’s head. “Chef, Stella, I’m glad to see you both here.”

The chef nods, Stella is smiling. “I’m hiding out. They can track me but I’m not answering them. They won’t show here.”

I nod. “You’re hiding, why?”

Alexia smiles. “They’re making her crazy. I got to be the therapist today. That never happens.”

I smile. “You’re good with advice. It’s based on fact and what you’ve experienced. Since your life was different than ours, we need the advice without the bullshit. You never throw it in so it’s easy to understand.”

She smiles. Stella laughs. “That’s true. Everyone throws shit in that messes with my head. I’m sticking to Alexia. My mom and Jess are coming to sort me out when Prez comes down tomorrow.”

“Anything I can help with?” I hope she’s not leaving. Sorting her out doesn’t sound good.

Her eyes go right to Alexia. It’s a woman thing. “It’s personal questions about two men. She can ask her mom. I’d be embarrassed hearing if you know the answers and she’d probably feel weird asking you and not someone that she’s close to. Her mom, Jess or Jordan and Brinks would be easier to ask those questions.”

I’m sure I’d never have that conversation in front of Alexia. I nod smiling at the two embarrassed women. “What’s for dinner?”

“Raid, Lorelei, Daniel.”

I look at the door. Raid walks in smiling. “Tell me you left me something to do with the chef.”

Alexia nods smiling. “You’re cooking the chicken. We did sauce. I wasn’t sure if Daniel wanted to help but the spaghetti needs to be cooked too.”

“Cool! I want to make spaghetti. The chef taught the Alpha-Bits.” Daniel makes me laugh.

I look at Alexia. “Chicken Parm?”

She nods with a killer smile. It was the first meal she learned how to cook and had friends over for the first time that day. “Yeah. Raid asked about the chef. He wants to learn Italian.”

I shake my head. “Hey, Lorelei. They don’t need me in there. I’m out back, Alexia.”

Lorelei nods with Alexia but keeps walking. “I’m glad he’s learning. I’m getting coffee. Who wants one?”

I guess the Benga’s are all showing a presence.

~*~*~

Dinner is fun. Anton showed then Akai with cheesy garlic bread and Amal with cookies. Garren and Michael showed for cookies and to drag us to the pool. Daniel is all for it and hangs with Alejandro and the Bits. I shake my head when they’re talking about the water pressure. Alejandro acts older than six.

Ford comes in