Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“I hope he’d support you no matter if you were a sadist, an exhibitionist, or a pony,” Axel stated firmly.
“I think he would,” Nicoya commented.
“Would you like to go get an ice cream cone with me? I bet your friends are worried about you.”
“I’d like that. You could stay and color with me later. You know… If you want to,” she added hesitantly.
“I’d love to color with you. I’ll warn you, I color even worse than I plant cherry trees.”
Her giggles went straight to his heart. “It’s easier if you take your time.”
Nicoya hung back as Axel escorted her into the kitchen. It was obvious she didn’t know how her Little friends would react to her appearing with him after she’d panicked.
“It’s okay, Nicoya. Everyone understands.” As Axel waited for her to decide to join the group, he asked, “Do you want chocolate or strawberry ice cream?”
“Chocolate,” she declared as she stepped into the group. They were scattered around the kitchen—some standing, some seated.
“There’s bubblegum ice cream, Nicoya.” Ellie pointed to the container in Garrett’s hands.
“I want that,” Nicoya said, changing her mind immediately.
“Bubblegum ice cream? Does it just taste like bubblegum or does it have gum in it?” Axel asked.
“Both,” Daisy answered, blowing a bubble with her gum.
“Heck. I want bubblegum now, too,” Axel said, making everyone laugh.
“My Daddy’s having it, too. He likes it,” Avery said, pointing to her Daddy, Trace.
“What do you think, Nicoya? Should we give Axel an ice cream cone and let him join the group?” Garrett asked, watching the Little’s face.
Axel said nothing but waited silently to see how the Little girl would answer.
“I’d like him to have ice cream with us so we can get to know him better,” Nicoya suggested.
“I think that is a very good idea,” Trace Barnes endorsed.
With a flourish, Garrett created two bubblegum cones and handed them to Axel and Nicoya. They settled at the table in the last two chairs. Nicoya licked her ice cream and let out an “Mmm!” of delight.
“It is good, isn’t it?” Axel said, leaning closer to talk to her privately.
“Do you like it?” Nicoya asked.
“I do. It’s sweet and delicious. The chunks of bubblegum are interesting. I don’t know whether to chew them or tuck them against my cheek and let them warm up,” Axel confessed.
“I can’t ever wait to try everything. I’m chewing and licking,” Nicoya shared.
“I’ll try that, too.”
Looking up at the crowd watching them, Axel asked, “Could someone tell me who goes with whom?”
Trace laughed and said, “Avery’s mine like she said earlier.” A dark-haired beauty waved at him as she nibbled on her cone.
“Garrett’s my Daddy. He found me making Rainbow Sprinkles cupcakes,” Ellie said, pointing to the large man who’d scooped the ice cream.
“I’m Tarson. I’m one of the dungeon monitors at Blaze. I’m very lucky to have a sweet Little who always smells like flowers. Daisy’s mine,” the large man announced before burying his face in Daisy’s long blonde hair. Her answering giggles made everyone smile.
“I guess we’re the last ones. I’m Callen as you know. Jordi is my Little girl.”
“Hi!” Jordi said with a smile and a wave, drawing Axel’s attention to her hand and bandaged finger.
“Did you hurt yourself?” he asked.
“A board didn’t want to fit into place. When I whacked it, I got a splinter in my finger. Daddy’s a big believer in bandages,” Jordi explained.
“Do you smack wood around normally?” Axel asked.
“All the time.”
When the other Littles burst into laughter, Jordi shook her bandaged finger at them. “You all have dirty minds. Not that kind of wood! Wood like from a tree. I’m a remodeler,” she explained to Axel.
“She built my deck,” Nicoya shared.
“It’s beautiful, Jordi,” Axel praised as Jordi beamed with happiness.
“Thank you,” Jordi answered politely.
“If you’ll excuse us, Ellie wanted to see the rope demonstration Riley and her Daddy, Milo, are doing in five minutes. Anyone want to come with us?” Garrett invited.
“Me, me, me!” filled the room and the Daddies herded their Littles to the sink to wash their hands before heading into a different area of Blaze to watch the demo.
Axel and Nicoya sat at the table finishing their ice cream cones. They discovered that neither of them liked the cone itself but enjoyed the ice cream inside. When others from different areas of the club visited the kitchen, Axel suggested, “Shall we go color now?”
“My fingers are all sticky,” she complained as she flexed her hands.
“Let’s go clean them up.”
Axel stood and led Nicoya to the sink. He dispensed soap onto their hands and turned on the water. Rubbing their hands together under the flow, he cleaned all the stickiness away. After drying her hands and his own, Axel extended his hand to the Little girl and smiled his approval when she linked her fingers with his.
“Let’s go color,” he suggested. “You lead me back to the daycare. I might get lost.”