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"Sorry, mate." A low, drawling voice interrupted the moment before Dru could once more start complaining and the two looked up to see Jack and Evie approaching from the door. Jack grinned and Evie waved manically, almost toppling herself out of her cup in her eagerness. "Lil bit here had been busy playin' with Antony an' I missed the time. You haven't been waitin' long, have you?"

"Hi, Dru! How are you? Ooo, you got bigger, too!"

"Thank you!" Evie motioned for Jack to set her down as he sat, using her big brown eyes to advantage. Jack merely chuckled, shook his head, and obeyed after sharing a long-suffering look with Caleb. "And you're still such a pretty color," Evie continued, looking over her friend more carefully now that they were closer. Suddenly, she stood and did a little pirouette. "I got this pretty peel and my legs go all the way up. At least that's what Daddy and Shade said about the girl on TV and she's got long legs like me, too."

Jack covered his face, laughing. "Oh, for the love of..." Removing his hand, he looked at Caleb. "Does Dru do this t' you?" he asked. "Remember every thing you say?"

Jack laughed softly, shaking his head. "That's rough, mate," he said. "Evie doesn't do it t' be contrary. She's just all curiosity an' Brunswick just eggs her on."

Evie dragged her fingers along the edge of her glass, head tilted to one side. She clearly was considering Dru's words and ignoring what their "fathers" were discussing. Finally, she shrugged. "Daddy likes nice girls. Like Trinity. He likes her a lot."

Jack's mouth twitched in the effort to bite back laughter and he quickly lifted his drink to it. Evie, on the other hand, spun in her cup to inspect Caleb with intense curiosity. Finally, she frowned. "But he's a boy," she said. "And he's a handsome boy." She smiled and the dimples appeared. "I like you, Mr. Caleb."

Jack almost choked on his drink and had to pound a fist against his sternum to catch his breath back.

"Huh?" Evie turned a confused look on Dru, blinking. "But it's true. He is handsome and I do like him. I mean, he takes good care of you, too, so that means he's a good guy. Daddy says that, if I'm gonna like boys, they should be good boys."

Jack smiled at Caleb apologetically. "She takes things a bit literal, like," he explained. "I was tryin' t' cut back on her hormones."

Oblivious to her friend's dilemma, Evie simply smiled and relaxed back in her cup. After a few wiggles and contortions, she managed to stretch herself across the top of her cup, long legs hooked over one side while her arms draped over the other. "Boys are interesting," she added. "I really like Kai and David. They're sweet!"

Jack choked on his drink but recovered when Evie suddenly lost interest in that topic and stared at the nut Dru had shoved into her mouth. "What's that?" she asked.

Jack watched Caleb with clear sympathy and brought his own pint to his mouth for a sip. He arched his eyebrows and shrugged. Setting it down again, he murmured, "Don't ask, mate. You just kinda watch 'em an' try t' prevent the explosions."

Taking the bit of nut with a glowing smile, Evie said, "Thank you, Dru! You're so cool." Then she promptly began nibbling at it. A thoughtful look grew on her face. "It's kinda salty. Good, though."