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“At three thirty a.m.,” Penny added through another yawn.
Rowen patted his beaming niece’s head. “Which translates into constant bouts of Phoebe appearing out of nowhere and yelling—”
“Surprise!” the child bellowed. “It’s Phoebe, the hot dog fairy princess secret agent.”
“We’ve read Phoebe a few spy books for kids,” Penny explained.
“And now I’m a secret spy agent on the lookout for—” Phoebe gasped when she noticed Aria. “Wait a second. It’s you.”
“Me?” Aria huffed, lifting her chin like she was preparing to throw down.
“It’s theeat wormsgirl. You’re here. Remember me from the video call? I’m Phoebe. You’re going to be my new best friend.”
“Says who?” Aria shot back with a smidge less beat-down to her tone.
“Me,” the little girl replied, undeterred. “I told you. I’m Phoebe.”
Aria looked Phoebe up and down. “You never said what you were on the lookout for.”
Phoebe turned. “Hot dogs,” she answered, showing off her bag covered in tiny dancing wieners. “I’m also on the lookout for cookies.”
“What do you think of this?” Aria mimicked Phoebe’s moves and showed off her backpack.
Phoebe’s jaw nearly hit the ground. “It’s covered in cookies and cupcakes.”
“And bonbons. Those are the little chocolates.” She waved Phoebe in and held up her lunch box. “When my uncle and aunt were in the basement last night, I dumped my carrot sticks into the garbage and filled the container with super chocolatey bonbons.”
“We’re gonna be the bestest of best friends,” Phoebe exclaimed, then grew serious. “What’s your name again?”
Aria flicked one of her pigtails over her shoulder. “Aria Paige-Grant.”
Wide-eyed, Phoebe took a step back. “Wow, that’s a superstar name.”
The hint of a grin pulled on the corners of Aria’s mouth. “Yeah, that’s what I’m gonna be when I grow up.”
“I’m gonna be the queen of the hot dog fairies. I’m just a princess super spy now,” Phoebe replied, then gasped as she peered past her uncle. This kid clearly lived on a steady supply of adrenaline, sugar, and processed meats. “I see Oscar and Sebastian. They’re playing hopscotch. Can me and Aria play, too?”
“Go ahead,” Penny answered.
“Uncle Landy, Aunt Harper, can I go with this crazy weird hot dog girl?” Aria asked, but the grin on her face canceled out the snark in her request.
“Sure,” Landon answered, “but stay where we can see you,” he added, puffing up like Aria had, and for a good reason.
That was some solid parenting.
He glanced at her, and she nodded approvingly.
Look at them. Take away the porno innuendos, and they weren’t half bad at not ruining a child.
Phoebe grabbed Aria’s hand, and the girls headed off, pigtails swinging, as they sprinted toward the boys. The duo zoomed past Charlotte, Mitch, Libby, and Erasmus, who chuckled at the enthusiastic girls.
“The whole gang’s here,” Rowen said as the foursome joined them.
“How is newlywed life?” Mitch asked as everyone stared at her and Landon.
She glanced at her husband. “We’re…great.”
“Yes, great,” Landon repeated.
