Page 10 of A Little Bit More

“While she’s asleep?”

“When she wakes up.” Katy stamped her foot.

“Come on.” Flynn took her hand. “We’re going upstairs. We’re going to be quiet, and we’re going to get all of the furballs out of my bedroom—before your mum wakes up.”

“But I don’t want to,” she wailed.

“Do I have to gag you?” he said as he pushed open the front door.

“You aren’t allowed to gag kids. Uncle Matt will arrest you. Then you’ll have to play football for the prison team.”

“I should never have let you watchThe Longest Yard,” Flynn muttered as they tiptoed into the house.

“Good morning,” a voice called from the living room, making them stop dead in their tracks.

Slowly, they turned to find Abby sitting on the sofa, cradling a mug of tea.

“Hi, baby.” Flynn plastered on his sexiest smile and puffed out his bare chest—it was worth a try.

“Good morning, Muma,” Katy said as though ice cream wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

Abby wasn’t buying any of it. “So,” she said, “I woke up to the sound of guinea pigs squeaking, and imagine my surprise when I looked over the side of the bed and found the floor covered in furballs.” She took a sip of her tea.

Flynn and Katy just stood holding hands, waiting for the rest.

“I counted thirteen before I lost track of them,” Abby said. “But I’m fairly certain there were more than that.”

“Abby…” Flynn started, but she cocked an eyebrow at him, and it was enough to make him shut up.

“There is guinea pig poop all over my bedroom floor,” Abby said.

“Uh-oh.” Katy tugged on his hand, and when he looked down at her, she whispered, “It’s not my fault. I told them not to poop.”

Flynn smothered a groan.

Abby cleared her throat to regain their attention. “When Katy asked for guinea pigs, I said she was too young to take care of them. You”—she pointed at Flynn—“said that it would be fine. That you’d teach her what to do. Then we agreed on two pigs. But you brought home four—because you couldn’t ‘split up the band’. It’s okay, you said. Don’t worry, you said. They’re all girls, you said.” She lowered her voice to mimic him. “I know how to tell girls from boys, Abby. I’m training to be a vet.”

Katy covered her mouth and giggled. When Flynn frowned down at her, she shrugged. “Muma’s funny,” she whispered.

“Now,” Abby said, “there are at least thirteen guinea pigs peeing and pooping on my bedroom carpet.” She held up an iPad that had been sitting on the sofa beside her. “I had time to look up the reproductive cycle of guinea pigs while you two were arguing on the front steps. They can get pregnant at two months. They gestate for about nine weeks. They can have as many as eight pups each. And have five litters a year.” She took another sip of tea. “By this time next year, we’ll be drowning in guinea pigs. Do you have anything you want to say?”

Katy and Flynn shared a look before pointing at each other.

“It’s his fault.”

“It’s her fault.”

Their accusations came out at the same time, and they frowned at each other.

Abby groaned, her head falling back to the sofa. “Flynn. Deal with this.”

“I’m on it.” He ushered Katy toward the stairs. “I promise every pig will be properly dealt with.”

Abby’s head came back up, and she glared at him. “You’re keeping them, aren’t you?”

“Maybe?” What else was he supposed to do with them? “But I promise to desex all of them.” He thought about it for a second. “Or at least pay someone who knows how to do it.”

“Just go.” Abby pointed to the stairs. “Round up the fur balls and clean the carpet. I can’t deal with either of you right now.”

Katy tugged on his hand. “Are we really keeping them?”

“Aye,” Flynn said with a sigh.

With a whoop, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. “I knew you’d let me keep them. Muma’s wrong—youcanbe trained.”

“Great,” Flynn said, and Abby laughed.