Page 6

Jude stood with the other runners going through pre-race stretches. His glutes were a little tight, but that wouldn’t keep him from the start line. As far as he was concerned nothing would stop him from running alongside his son, nieces, and best friends.

“You realize these kids are going to smoke our asses, right?” Ronan asked.

He was leaning from side to side following along with Greg Prentiss, the elementary school’s gym teacher, as he stressed how important warming up was before the race.

Ronan looked like a million bucks in his pink tutu and curly wig.

It was on the tip of Jude’s tongue to tell Ronan the only thing getting smoked would be their victory cigars, but he knew his annoying best friend was right on the money.

Wolf had been running non-stop for the last two hours and still had tons of energy to spare.

Not only was Wolf going to kick his ass, but everyone else’s as well.

"Oh, yeah. The kids will be across the finish line before any of us even find our stride.”

“Speak for yourselves.” Fitzgibbon crowed.

He was dressed in a pair of black running shorts and a purple tutu, which highlighted his ass, along with a Salem Witches Dead Run tee that was stretched to bursting across his broad chest. On his head was a witch’s hat headband sitting at a jaunty angle.

Fitz looked like a million bucks. Maybe fifty was the new thirty.

“I’m kicking everyone’s ass today. Especially yours.

” He pointed a finger back and forth between Jude and Ronan.

Jude rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, before the ass kicking starts, can you help me with my cape?” Jude held it out to Ronan.

Thankfully, Ten had added Velcro to the strings of the red Super Jude cape so that he wouldn’t accidentally suffocate himself, or strangle if someone grabbed the cape from behind and pulled tight.

“Tilt your chin back.” Ronan fastened the cape. “Ten must have gotten the idea for the Velcro from that tear-away toga he loves to wear when we roleplay as Maximus Erectus and Titus Assicus!”

“EW! TMI!” Jude batted Ronan’s hands away. “I’ll never unsee that.”

“You think Ten could make something like that for Jace and me?” Fitzgibbon waggled his eyebrows.

Jude barked a quick laugh. This was hardly the time or place for a discussion about well hung gladiators and their costumes, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Cope would enjoy a break from their norm.

“Racers, line up!” Prentiss called. He waved his arms back and forth. “Goggles on! Everyone keep in mind that we’ve got little runners among us this morning. Watch your step and your language.”

All eyes turned to Jude, who rolled his eyes.

His language wasn’t that colorful, although there was enough money in Wolf’s swear jar to buy all of the neighborhood kids two new bikes, but that was beside the point.

He put on his goggles and bent low to help Wolf, who somehow managed to have his turned inside out.

“Okay everyone, time for a startling line selfie!” Fitz knelt on the ground and gathered everyone around him. “Say Salem Witches Dead Run!”

The kids shouted, while Fitz took several snaps of the group. Jude couldn’t help thinking the picture would be great for Christmas cards.

“Runners take your mark!” Prentiss shouted. “Get set! GO!”

Jude watched the crowd in front of him start off. Wolf was standing at his side, jumping up and down. Christ, if Jude had been bouncing around like that, he’d need a nap.

“Let’s go!” Wolf howled at the sky and took off running. Aurora and Everly were right behind him.

“Guess the kids aren’t going to stay with us.” Ronan snorted.

“We’re gonna have to stay with them!” Fitz took off running. He was the tallest man around, which Jude knew would give him a clearer view of where the kids were.

With a high five, Jude and Ronan took off together. Jude knew the key to getting through the run was to keep a steady pace. He was about to tell Ronan that very thing when he was hit with bright blue color powder. He might have been wearing goggles, but his mouth was wide open.

“Gotcha!” Cisco Jackson shouted triumphantly. Other members of the Salem Police Department were handing out water, which Jude grabbed to wash out his mouth.

“You look like you went down on Smurfette!” Ronan laughed.

“More like Papa Smurf!” Jude grinned.

Colored powder flew at them from all angles. The back of Ronan’s shirt was purple, while his front was green. Jude was covered in yellow, making him look like Big Bird. “Uh, oh, trouble ahead.” Jude could see Fitzgibbon kneeling off to the side of the road. The kids were with him.

When Jude reached them, he could see Everly and Aurora laughing their little asses off. “What’s so funny? Is everyone okay?”

“Woofie got hit by the Greensboro twins.” Fitz moved to the side to reveal half of Wolf’s head was orange, while the other half was pink. His mouth was a gaudy mix of the two.

“They love me!” Wolf said with a large grin. “I just wish their aim was better.” Wolf took a mouthful of water, gargled, and spat it out. “Wonder Wolf is ready to go, go, go!” Without waiting for the others, Wolf took off. Both girls were behind him, with Ronan in hot pursuit.

“Looks like the Greensboro twins love you too, Fitzy!” Jude pointed at Fitzgibbon’s legs, one was pink, the other orange.

“Wolf’s right, their aim is for shit, plus the girls are only three feet tall, so that helped.

” Fitzgibbon chuckled. “Let’s get back at it.

I don’t want Aurora getting too far ahead of me.

She’s done well so far with Everly by her side reminding her how much fun it is to get hit with a rainbow of colors, but I’m not sure how much longer that mood will last.”

Jude ran alongside Fitz, periodically hearing Wonder Wolf’s howl. He assumed the call went up every time he got hit with color. “Have you and Jace told Aurora about adopting a baby?”

Fitz shook his head. “Not yet. We want to wait until Jace is home full time. We’ll let her get used to that change in her life and then we’ll talk about becoming a big sister. I’m worried how she’ll take it.”

To be honest, Jude was worried too. Aurora had been an only child for six years and had two fathers who doted on her every need. “Cope and Wolf brought Lizbet home when I was still in the hospital.”

“I remember,” Fitz said.

“I told him he needed to be his little sister’s protector, since I couldn’t go home with them.

He took to it like a duck to water. Don’t get me wrong, there were times when he was jealous of all the attention Lizbet got, but on the whole, he responded well to having a task.

Maybe Aurora would be the same way, you know, let her know there’s no job more important than being a big sister. ”

Fitz grinned, just as neon pink color flew their way thanks to a group of Aurora’s first grade classmates. “Got you, Captain Fitz!”

Jude howled, imitating Wolf and stood still while the kids let him have it.

“I like that idea about playing up how important it is being a big sister,” Fitz said, once they were on their way again. “Aurora likes to feel needed.”

“We all do, Fitz!” Jude clapped his friend on the shoulder. His hand came away purple. “Now, what I need is to kick Ronan’s ass. You in?”

“Yup! Let’s get him!”

The last marker indicated there was half a mile left in the run. Cope, Ten, Kaye, and the littlest kids were just up ahead. He wanted Lizbet to be proud of her father. Hell, if he was able to beat Ronan, maybe Cope would reward him by blowing the rainbow.