back into the living room.
His friends followed him, and while we waited for Rooney to get back with Sia, I started to put all the presents onto the coffee table in front of the pushed back couch.
“Ira can sit on the throne,” Bethy suggested as she helped me get all the presents without me having to ask her for help onto the coffee table.
“That’s right! Opening presents is fun, huh?”
“Yes, and I got to open mine already because my birthday was in April.”
I knew that, as Ira was invited to her birthday this year.
“Ira, you can sit here!” she then called out, pointing at the couch.
He came running toward us and crawled up on the couch, then he smiled at me and said, “Can I open Rooney’s first? It’s the biggest!”
“No, you have to save that for last, Ira! It’s gonna be more fun that way!” Bethy suggested, making Ira quickly change his mind.
I chuckled and handed him the first one as Rooney walked back into the room with Sia.
Rooney
Ira was opening his presents while all the kids sat in front of him, excitedly watching what he got.
Every toy was fun and different, making Ira smile at each one of them, but I was positive that none were as great as the gift Wells gave him to open this morning.
A Hulk costume.
A full-body one, I might add.
He had worn it all morning, but before his friends started to arrive, he took it off because it was getting too hot inside.
Once all the presents were opened, Wells helped me put the painting I made on the ground, and all the kids sat around it as Ira ripped the wrapping paper to shreds.
“Woah!” one kid said as the others admired the colorful work of art in front of them.
“Holy shit,” Wells whispered, letting out a laugh afterward. “You actually painted this?”
“Yeah, looks good, huh?”
I was proud of myself as I spent hours perfecting it for Ira, and Wells nodded with his eyes glued on the canvas.
“It’s incredible, love! Look at Ira, he’s mesmerized,” he said with a chuckle.
Ira’s lips were parted and his finger carefully brushed along the painted surface.
“Do you like it, buddy?” Wells asked, and he quickly nodded, still not able to talk.
“Did you paint it?” Bethy asked, seeing as she was the most talkative kid around here.
“I did, yes. Do you like to draw and paint?”
“Not really, but my mom likes to. Maybe you can be her friend,” she suggested.
I laughed softly and rubbed her back. “Sounds great, Bethy.”
Ira got up while some kids already turned to play with something else and others kept admiring my work and pointing at the superheroes they recognized.
I sat down on the couch and let him hug me tightly. “Thank you, Rooney,” he said, his manners never lacking.
“You’re so welcome, Ira. We can hang it up in your room tomorrow, okay?”
He looked at me and nodded, then turned his head to gaze up at Wells and pointed at the painting.
“I got all superheroes!” he announced.
“It’s amazing, huh? Rooney’s a great artist,” he said, brushing the back of my head.
God, these two held my heart.
How could I ever stay away from them?
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent watching a movie of Ira’s choice, eating dinner, and then listening to a story I read them to fall asleep.
Wells and I were sitting on Ira’s bed, Wells cuddling him while all the other kids were wrapped up in the sleeping bags they brought to sleep in tonight.
The carpet was soft enough, but we gave them more pillows from the living room to make sure they were comfortable enough, but none of them seemed to be bothered by the floor as this was a sleepover after all.
It was fun, and they enjoyed the story I was reading them.
A few had already fallen asleep, including Ira, and the rest were trying to keep their eyes open while I finished the last few pages of the book.
“Now, sleep tight, and tomorrow morning we’ll have a delicious breakfast waiting for you,” I told them quietly.
Some of them said good night, and once Wells tucked Ira in and kissed his head, we walked out of the bedroom, leaving the door open a crack.
“I hope none of them get home sick. But they all looked happy and relaxed.”
I nodded, wrapping my hands around Wells’s arm and leaning against him. “Today has really been fun and all the kids were great. I think they’ll be fine. Even Sia.”
She was the