Eddie grabs a fluffy pink unicorn and immediately joins in. “Okay, my unicorn is the spaceship engineer. He says the fox’s cookies are too crumbly for space travel. We need chocolate chip ones!”
I laugh and hold up my fox. “Hey! My fox worked very hard on those cookies. He’s a professional baker. Right, Mr. Fox?”
Mr. Fox, in my best silly voice, replies, “Yes! And I add extra love sprinkles!”
Davey’s bunny hops over. “Love sprinkles? That sounds suspicious. My bunny says we need a taste test first!”
The three of us spend the next twenty minutes in absolute chaos—building a lopsided pillow fort, having an intense stuffie tea party with imaginary cups, and chasing each other around the room with tickle attacks.
Eddie is hilarious, giving his unicorn a very proper British accent and making him complain about “improper tail alignment” during the spaceship launch.
Eventually we collapse onto a giant pile of blankets, flushed and laughing. Eddie smooths his romper and gives me a warm, curious smile.
“So… you know my name is Eddie. But did you also know that my Daddy knows your Daddy… Kane, right?”
My stomach does a little flip. I sit up straighter. “He does?”
“Yeah,” Eddie says, still smiling but watching me carefully. “My Daddy’s name is Viktor. He’s been working really hard to bring Kane into the business with two other really great Daddies, Ivan and Kirill. He says it’ll be good for everyone. Safer territories, better coordination, less fighting in the streets. He really believes they can make things better together.”
Davey’s eyes narrow slightly, but he stays quiet, letting me lead.
I swallow. “Did… did Viktor send you here to spy on me?”
Eddie shakes his head quickly, looking genuinely surprised. “No, I promise! He just mentioned that Kane had a new boy and I might run into you at places like this. I wanted to introduce myself properly and show you that his offer to Kane is legit. He’s not trying to trick anyone. He really wants this alliance to work. For all of them.”
I study Eddie’s face. He looks sincere—open, friendly, every inch a regular Little like us. Still, my heart is racing.
“I’ll need to talk to my Daddy about it,” I say carefully. “But… I’m happy to keep playing for now.”
Eddie’s smile returns, bright and genuine. “Cool! That’s all I wanted. No pressure. We can just be Littles for the rest of the hour.”
Davey relaxes a fraction. “Okay… but if you start asking too many questions, I’m throwing a stuffie at you.”
Eddie laughs. “Fair! Now come on, let’s build the greatest stuffie ski slope ever. I bet my unicorn can beat your fox in a race!”
We dive back in, the earlier tension melting away as we stack pillows, drag chairs and a low table into position, and drape blankets for the snow. Eddie narrates the whole thing like a sports commentator.
“And they’re off! Mr. Fox takes an early lead, but wait—Captain Bunny is making a daring overtake! Oh no, the unicorn engineer has hit a pillow avalanche!”
We’re all laughing so hard we can barely breathe by the time we send the final wave of stuffies sliding down the slope. Eddie high-fives both of us.
“This was so much fun,” Eddie says, still catching his breath. “We should do this again soon. All three of us. Maybe with more Littles next time?”
“I’d like that,” I reply honestly.
We exchange numbers before Davey and I have to head back to campus. Before we leave, Eddie gives us both big hugs.
“Tell Kane that Viktor really does want to work with him,” Eddie says softly as we part. “For real. And you’ve got my number now, so message me later, okay?”
I smile and nod, but inside my head is already whirring with thoughts…
* * *
Later that evening I’m back in my apartment, pacing the small living room with Twist clutched to my chest. The day has been long: seminars, notes, that strange but fun playdate.
But Kane hasn’t replied to any of my messages.
Not one. I sent three. All marked delivered but unopened.
