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I nodded and grabbed some hair product to tame my curls. I went back to the mirror to run the wide tooth comb through my hair. Then I put my products away. I curled up on the couch and waited for the rest of the guys to finish getting ready. It didn’t take them long.
“Let’s go eat,” Noah said jovially.
I nodded and slipped on my UGGs. Tonight, was all about comfort. I took Drake’s proffered hand as we walked out into the hallway. We walked down to the DFAC, and I could see that the guys were already there along with the kids.
Ella and Alex saw me first and got up screaming my name. I smiled genuinely for the first time since I got back. I knelt to embrace them, and they both hit me with such force that I was on my butt within seconds. Our limbs were in a tangled heap. They tumbled down on top of me and we all ended up giggling and laughing. With the help of Drake and Jaxson, we were able to stand back up.
“Are you okay?” Ella asked worriedly. “I saw you fixing that guy. I showed Aunt Megan, and she let Pops know.”
I was surprised that she began to call Megan Aunt Megan. I wasn’t going to discourage her, but it wasn’t what I expected. I didn’t think she would take to the other woman so quickly. Although, they had been spending a lot of time together.
I nodded. “I’m just fine.” I insisted.
“But why are you so sad?” Alex asked with a frown. “Why are the guys making you sad?”
I gave him a pointed look. “Little man.” He ducked his head sheepishly, knowing he was caught. “We discussed this. We don’t look in other people’s heads without permission or unless you feel like you’re in danger.”
“I know. I know,” he muttered. “I’ve been working really hard with Pops. I hear and see a lot now. I don’t mean to. It just comes to me.”
I kissed his cheek. He ducked his head again like he was embarrassed to be kissed in front of everyone. I knew he secretly loved it. “Well, it sounds like we have work to do. You and me. You need to work on your barriers, and I need to work on honing my gifts.”
He nodded. “Let’s eat,” he said cheerily. With the innocence of youth, he was able to bounce back so easily.
“We already had dinner,” Ella said in exasperation. I had to hide my smile. They acted more and more like siblings every day, even though they were technically cousins.
“I’m a growing boy,” Alex said
mutinously.
“If you’re hungry, let’s get you something to eat,” Jaxson declared as he fist-bumped the smaller boy.
“Can I get ice cream?” Ella asked.
Chow wasn’t generally open this late. It looked like they had set out the salad bar, lunch meat, cheeses, bread, and bags of chips for us. “If they have any,” I replied.
“But you already had dinner,” Alex said smugly to Emma as he grabbed a tray.
“I had dinner. Ice cream is dessert,” Ella said in an annoyed voice.
Jaxson chuckled. “She got you there.”
Alex shrugged. “I’ll get ice cream, too.”
We all laughed at his reasoning.
I made a ham and swiss sandwich, threw a bag of barbecue chips on my tray, and poured some pop in my cup. The chest freezer located at the end of the drink station had the novelty ice creams. They generally had it stocked three, maybe four days a week. It was normally the one and only highlight the DFAC had to offer us.
The kids were excited to see them in there. Alex grabbed two of them.
“Only one,” I gently corrected him.
“I’m grabbing one for Micah,” Alex explained.
I smiled at his thoughtfulness. He really had his moments of sweetness.
I followed Noah and Jaxson to our normal table. As we sat down the other group started to trickle in. They looked like they had just returned and didn’t look like they even had a chance to shower. I’m sure they were in desperate need of one.
“Blake Thomas, you are no longer my best friend,” Jemmy yelled at me across the room. “And I’ve decided you are no longer my sister in law.”
