“Oh, yes, like Nicco said, he already was family, and he’s acted like a brother, especially to Immy, since he moved in with us. It doesn’t change any of that.”
Nicco smiled, eating his apple, and I wondered if this was a bigger deal for him than he was admitting. He wasn’t alone anymore, and as an orphan myself, I knew what that felt like.
“But we’re not here to talk about me,” Mas started, waiting for the others to take a seat. Realizing there weren't enough places, I reached over and pulled Loren until she was in my lap. Snuggling with her, I wrapped my arms around her, cocooning her in my embrace.
“Mm, better,” I breathed, her giggle soothing me in all the best ways. I didn’t realize how much I needed her touch to soothe the broken edges in me.
Grumpy grumbled something but took a spot on the floor, Fort sitting near him for pets. Barkley laid at my feet, and I wanted to brag about it, but I felt having both the dog and Loren’s attention might sting a little, so I let it go for now. Happy pulled a chair over from the table, taking a seat. Once we were all positioned, we all looked at Mas, and that was when I realized we were like the fucking dwarfs.
Mas was clearly Doc, and Nicco was a toss-up between Bashful and Sneezy or Clumsy, as I liked to think of him.
So which one did that make me?
Ah, hell. I was the mute one, wasn’t I?
Well, if I was going to be Dopey for anyone, it would be Spitfire.