Page 44 of Cuckoo
“Uh, thanks.” I could feel my cheeks growing warm.
Callie looped her arm around mine. “Come have a drink. We want to hear all about how you tamed Cuckoo.”
I snorted. “He sort of did all the taming and stalking,” I revealed.
Several giggles followed.
“I believe it,” Rebel laughed.
“He’s not wearing a costume today,” Gail observed. “You must have distracted him.”
I bit my lip to keep from diving into a subject I felt too shy to discuss. I’d never had a lot of female friends. None that were close. It was strange to be surrounded by all these women. A bit intimidating, if I was honest, but I didn’t dislike it.
“We’re a lot, I know,” Bree observed, leading me to a seat. “But you should know we’re all so excited for Cuckoo.”
I could understand. “I’m happy to be here and meet everyone.” I felt eyes on me and lifted my head, immediately locking onto Cuckoo’s intense gray stare. I nodded, smiled, and watched his shoulders relax.
“He’s so in love with you,” Callie remarked dreamily. “I remember when Hawk used to watch me like that.”
“He still does,” Rebel pointed out.
“I know.” Callie giggled. “It’s so intense.”
“I hope we’ll see you around often. Come over whenever you like,” Bella encouraged. “We’re here nearly as much as the men.”
“If not more,” Gail added.
“I’d like that.” And I meant it.
I heard someone clear his throat and turned to my left, finding an older man sitting on a candy apple red scooter, holding a cane, and smiling as he jolted to a stop. He might have jarred the table as he bumped it.
“I’m Lucky Lou.”
I held out my hand, and he shook it. “Katrina. Nice to meet you, Lucky Lou.”
He shook my hand and then patted it with his other one, holding me in place. “You’re an old soul. Familiar, too. What’s your last name?”
“I was adopted. Don’t remember much about my birth parents, but they did have the last name Rossi.”
He blinked. “Rossi?” It left his mouth on a croak.
“Yes. They died seven—”
“—teen years ago. Drunk driver. Accident on the highway.”
“How do you know that?” I asked, shocked.
“Because Katrina, dear, you’re my cousin’s daughter.”
Silence engulfed us.
“I havefamily?Alive?”
Lucky Lou nodded, tears filling his eyes. “You sure do!”
I didn’t know what prompted me to rise to my feet, rush this older man, and tackle him in a hug, but I did it without hesitation. He hugged me back as fiercely, sniffling as the two of us held on.
“You’re all I’ve got. You’ve made this old man happy.”
