“This is amazing,” Tock said, clearly marveling at the rows of brand-new or nearly new machines in a variety of bright colors.
“I know. How much laundry could they possibly do here?”
“It’s a big pack. With a lot of pups.”
“None of which will play with my kid.”
Tock picked a washing machine and put Dani’s clothes in it, along with detergent and some softener.
“Your daughter doesn’t want to play with those kids anyway.”
“How do you know?”
She closed the door and punched a few buttons, setting the machine to wash.
When she faced him, she replied simply, “She’s an introvert.”
“No, she isn’t.”
“She punched that kid today because he wouldn’t stop bothering her while she was working. He definitely needs to learn the rules of consent, but most extroverts would have just gotten up and gone to play with other kids. Your daughter punched him because she just wanted to be left alone to work. That’s an introvert who is completely fine being alone with herself. She’s just like you.”
“What? I’m not an introvert. I like being around people.”
“Yeah, but you’re just as happy being on your own. And I get it. I’m an introvert. Mads is an introvert. Max and Streep are not introverts. And we don’t know what the hell Nelle is. She keeps her own counsel.” She tapped her watch. “You have to call Dani’s mother.”
“Oh. Right.”
Tock left as he dialed up Dani’s mom. While his ex warned him that she’d take his skin off “if anything happens to my baby,” Shay was shocked to see Tock come back with a notebook and a pencil case. She hopped onto a dryer, took out a pencil, sharpened it, and got to work.
Baffled, Shay muted his phone and said, “I thought you were going to bed.”
“I’m not tired. And I promised I’d get her clothes done tonight.”
“I can finish.”
“I promised.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that, and Dani’s mom was asking, “Are you even listening to me?” So he refocused his attention and took the phone off mute.
“I’m listening. She’ll be fine. But you and the boys should be careful, too. Until this . . . is over.”
His ex paused before asking. “Shay, are you okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just . . .”
“Dani’s going to be fine. There’s no one I trust more with my little girl than you and your brothers.”
“But I don’t want her in therapy for the next twenty years because Daddy was in a firefight.”
“Give the kid some credit. Our baby is kickass. As long as you and your brothers are protecting her, she’ll be just fine.” She laughed a little. “She does seem a little disappointed about math camp, though.”
“She is. But don’t worry. I’ve got friends keeping her busy with math problems. We’ll make sure she’s entertained.”
“Friends, huh? Would that be the impressive Tock?”
“Uh . . . what?” He glanced over and Tock was still writing in the notebook, so he moved a little farther away.
“You don’t know? Our kid is really impressed with her. She teaches Dani math, doesn’t like football either, and is apparently very cool.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I am surprised to hear she’s a honey badger. You’d think they’d be too small for you.”
“It’s not what you think,” he repeated.
“Is it serious?”
“There’s nothing to be serious about.”
“It better be serious if you’re involving my kid. I don’t want her getting attached to your whores.”
“I don’t have that in my life.”
“You better not,” she said, almost singing the words. “Or I’m going to be pi-i-ssed.”
“You’re not going to be pissed because there’s nothing going on.”
“Dani says you like like her.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“But, seriously, do you like like—”
Shay disconnected the call before the mother of his child could finish such a stupid statement.
“You okay?” Tock asked.
“I’m surrounded by crazy cats.”
“Also called family, but yeah.” She nodded. “You totally are.”
*
“So what do you think?”
Tock looked up from the math work she was creating for Dani. “What do I think about what?”
“About all of this.”
“Are you asking if I think we will now live in a world of misery and despair, forced never to see the sun again as we live by our wits and eat human flesh for sustenance? If that’s what you’re asking, then yes . . . that’s what I think will happen.”
“You’re mocking me.”
“Of course I’m mocking you,” she said with a laugh. “We’re going to be fine. The kid is going to be fine.”
“How do you know?”
She shrugged. “I won’t allow for anything else.”
“I’m afraid to ask what that even means.”
She closed the notebook. “How did it go with Dani’s mom?”
“Chu handled the situation better than I would have. But she’s fine with Dani staying safe with us.” Shay leaned over the machine Tock sat on, resting his arms on the cold metal and interlocking his fingers. “She loves our girl.”
“Was that ever a question?”
“Keane thinks I should fight for full custody.”
“Do you think you should do that?”
“No.”
“Then you follow your instincts. She’s your kid, not Keane’s.”
“Yeah, but—”
“If Keane had his way, he’d buy this entire compound, put an electrified fence around the whole thing, and put your entire family inside. Never to leave again. Not really surprising considering what happened to your dad. But you know that’s not healthy for your daughter. And, honestly, he should cut Dani’s mom some slack. She’s trying to manage three adolescent tiger males and she wants to prevent them from growing up to run Manhattan streets, chasing down vans filled with lions that shot at them.”
Shay smirked. “Very funny.”
Clutching the notebook in her hand, Tock slid off the dryer. “Let’s go up and watch some TV with everyone.”
She started to walk away but he lightly grabbed her wrist and stopped her. “You know, Dani told her mom about you.”
“What? Why?”
“She seems to think you like like me.”
“Like like you? I didn’t realize we were back in fifth grade.”
“You don’t like like me?’
“I am not having this conversation with a grown man.”
“You kissed me like you like like me.”
“Stop saying that,” she laughingly ordered. “It’s so . . . weird.”
“But is it true? Do you like—”
Tock put her hand over his mouth. “Please stop.” She felt him smile against her palm. “And in answer to your question, I find you very . . . interesting.”