"Tino, that wasn't nice," Zadia told Tino, laughing on the inside.
"It's not funny Zadia, it hurts," Roman grumbled, puckering his lips to kiss her again. Before he could even try again, Tino mushed his face away.
Zadia laughed. "I don't think he wants you doing that."
Roman looked at his nephew, playfully pointing his fingers in his direction. "Little hater." He said to him, "He's strong as hell."
"I know. Why do you think I keep tying my hair when it's time to change his diaper? That's all he'll ever pull on even though my hair isn't its original length anymore." Roman tickled his nephew, making him giggle. Zadia watched them, a smile dancing on her lips. Raising the pillow, she threw it at Roman. "Tino I'll save you." She childishly said, throwing another pillow at him. Her eyes grew large with excitement as his gaze settled on her.
"You guys are teaming up on me?" He grabbed Zadia's foot before she could even think about moving them. She squealed when he pulled her by the calves, drawing her close. "That's not fair." He said holding them both down, using both his hands to tickle them.
Zadia laughed till she couldn't anymore, each gasp of air she took made a cramp in her stomach. "We give up! We give up!" She laughed harder, thrashing underneath him.
Mischievously, Roman chuckled.
He was going to continue until someone knocked on his door.
Both adults in the room froze, their shocked eyes dead set on the other. Tino babbled some words which made them avert their gaze for a moment. Roman raised a finger in Zadia's direction, telling her to follow along. "Yeah?" He shouted at whoever was on the other side of the door.
"Umm." Abel started at the other end, slightly confused. "I was looking for Zadia since my practice with Lynn ended early. I checked in her room first, then I heard her laughing...." He awkwardly looked around the empty hall. "In here..."
Zadia nervously bit the inside of her cheek. Roman cleared his throat, properly fixing his white t-shirt. "Yeah, she's in here kid." Roman picked up Tino, grabbing his favorite blanket from off the bed. They met at the front of the door, Roman kissing the side of her face. "Later." He said lowly and she nodded.
"Later." She whispered. On his cue Zadia opened the door, acting as casual as she could. "Abel, hey!" She took Tino from his uncle. "I was just getting Tino's blanket... so we could head outside." She stepped out of the room, and into the hall. "Roman made a stupid joke about spaghetti and you already know how broken my humor can be."
Abel squinted suspiciously before he chuckled. "What was the joke?"
"The joke?" Zadia repeated, looking to Roman for help. "What was the joke again Roman?" He gave her a look that said, 'what the fuck' which almost caused her to laugh.
Roman scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out what to say to the teen. "It was...ah..." he trailed on, trying to think of one. "...What kind of pasta can grant wishes?"
"Manicotti?" Abel answered.
"No, Fettugenie," Roman said.
Both their eyes fell to Zadia when she began laughing dramatically. "See... broken humor."
Roman cleared his throat. "I'm closing my door now..." He stated, shutting it right afterward.
ChApTeR - 18 🔞
Start from the beginning
