Page 79 of The Champion
“No...I’ve neverseen him get out of his crib before. I didn’t know he could get out.”
Axel looked up at us and handed Jameson Mr. Piggy and hispajamas he’d taken off, leaving him in just his diaper. Looking down, Axelwatched his own tiny arms swinging back and forth as though he never knew theycould do that. Then, with a smirk, he looked up at us.
“I think he knows something we don’t.” I told Jameson.
“He does. He knows we have no clue what we’re doing. Hecan smell the fear.”
I grinned. “Like a cougar?”
Jameson smacked my ass. “Not funny.”
“Can you change him?”
“Yeah...sure,” heagreed with a wary expression.
I made my way down stairs to make breakfast thinkingthey’d come down soon. An hour later, he finally came down stairs with Axelwalking behind him holding Mr. Piggy.
They were both wearing different clothes and Axel’s hairwas all wet.
“What took so long?” I asked placing the pancakes on thetable. “Your breakfast is getting cold.”
Jameson reached down and picked Axel up.
“He peed on me...andhim...”
Axel giggled in his arms and reached for me.
“Did you pee on daddy?” I cooed at him, giving him ahigh-five.
“Yayaya...” hebabbled nodding his head. I personally found this new nodding thing adorable.Every time you asked him a question, he nodded as though he was so proud hecould nod his head.
The offseason was passing quickly and before we knew itThanksgiving had arrived.
“You’d be surprised where your life can take you, Andrea.Hell Jameson and I got drunk on Purple Rain drinks and slept together. Lookwhere that landed us.” I motioned to Axel sitting beside Mr. Jangles on thefloor while he took a few handfuls of his fur from him.
Andrea and I were discussing her recent involvement withVan. I kind of thought something was up between them when they left togetherafter our Fourth of July party, but I didn’t want to assume anything.
Turns out, Andrea needed a woman to talk to.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Andrea askedpeeling potatoes for dinner.
“Yes, did it?” I stuffed a cookie in my mouth.
We were waiting for everyone to show up for Thanksgiving dinnerat Emma and Aiden’s house. Andrea and the twins flew in last night and whenVan’s eyes lit up, I knew something was up.
“Well...I thinkyou just told me to get drunk and sleep with Van.” Avoiding eye contact, hereyes focused on the beer I was holding. I knew that look. I’d perfected it inmy pit lizard days.
I angled my beer toward her. “Pretty much,”
She smiled.
“You whore!” I giggle snorted.
“You’re one to talk!”
She had me there. I shrugged once. “True, what did he sayafterwards?” I asked wondering what it was like for others that this happenedto.
“Umm...it happenedafter the Fourth of July party.” Her eyes did that please-don’t-judge-mesideways glance. “I freaked out afterwards because of the whole Charlie thingand being too soon and that he would think it was a mistake...anyway,” she shook her head reaching foranother potato in the bag. “He said one thing that I’ll always remember. Hesaid: I just want to feel...feelanything. For so long I’ve hidden myself away but I want to feel something. Idon’t want to be like this forever.”
