Strong (Stage Dive 4.50)

“Sure,” said Ev. “Why not? And now how about we talk about why Anne is only drinking water. That’s what I want to discuss next.”

“Oooh.” Lena chuckled. “I totally missed that. Oh my God.”

“I might just go wait in the kitchen,” said Sam, slipping away. But not before giving me a look full of pride. Easing back further in the seat, I watched him go with a smile.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“No-no-no!”

“Yes-yes-yes,” I shouted back because mature. “One tiny weeny little cube of carrot, then you get a spoonful of spaghetti. That was the deal.”

Gibby laughed and shook his head, delighted with our game. Meanwhile, Ben just sat opposite, smiling. Probably because he wasn’t the one having to convince the kid to eat something healthy. As battles of wills went, meal times rocked. For Gib, not for me. I usually lost. Though I’d found that by confiscating the dish and spoon early on, less food got thrown around. A good thing for everyone involved, but mostly me.

“You’ve been behaving so well all morning.” I shook my head. “This is sad. You’re giving Aunty Martha sad face. I hope you’re proud of yourself, young man.”

Gibby clapped his hands. “Yes!”

“Of course you are.”

“He gets that from you.” Ben smiled around his cup of coffee. “Little horns come out of his

head sometimes, too. It’s all from you, sister.”

“Dream on. He’s your child, through and through.”

“Darling, eat the piece of carrot,” he said, turning his attention back to his son. “C’mon now, rabbits eat carrot.”

“Wabbit?” asked Gib from his high chair, interested suddenly.

I nodded. “And rabbits can hop like insanely well. They can jump so high! You want to be cool like a rabbit, don’t you?”

After a moment’s thought, the child opened his mouth. I wasted no time shovelling the carrot in. Success.

“That being said”—I continued with the adult portion of the conversation—“your wife is pretty damn evil too.”

“Damn,” mumbled Gib around a mouthful of now orange mush.

Ben and I both winced, then shrugged. He’d copied worse before. He’d copy worse again. Given he lived surrounded by rock stars half the time, it was amazing the small child didn’t already swagger and swear in five languages.

“I had nothing to do with her dragging you to David and Ev’s last night,” said Ben. “Though I hear it turned out all right.”

“Apparently in my thirties I am in fact capable of occasional small acts of maturity. Who could have guessed?”

“Good for you.”

“Meh. Whatever.”

He just smiled.

“How is getting down Adam’s tracks going?”

“Yeah, good. Kid’s got potential, I’m telling you.”

“I believe you. I’ve heard him, and I’m sure you’ll do a great job with the album.”

“Thanks. We’re not the only ones who think he’s going places, either,” he said. “He’s having a meeting out by the pool with Adrian right now.”

I blinked. “Wait. You left Adam alone with Adrian?”