Felicity’s offer was tempting and Dames found himself form
I’ll
“But if I do something this simple, there’s no way I get a gold star, he muttered
“I’ll just order a whole bunch of gold star stickers online and give them all to your Felicity grinned. “That way, you’d have more stars than anyone!
Dames looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“Flick, do you usually go out wearing fake designer stuff?”
Felicity shook her head emphatically. “No way! I only wear the real thing!
Dames raised his voice, exasperated. “So you want me to take your fake gold stars to school and get laughed at by the other kids? Only the ones the teacher hands out are real gold stars! Haven’t you ever heard the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes?”
He huffed, crossing his arms. “You’re just fooling yourself.”
Getting lectured by a five–year–old left Felicity’s face an impressive swirl of colors–she looked more embarrassed than a paint palette.
“Fine, fine! I’ll help you build your space fortress.”
If Selene could put together a space fortress from plastic straws, surely Felicity could manage it too.
Ten minutes later, with Dames shrieking in dismay, 90% of the fortress was finished–just in time for Felicity to accidentally collapse it with her elbow.
Dames sat on the floor, frozen with shock.
“Y–you–you wrecked my space fortress!!”
“Dames, don’t blame me! Your mom’s fortress was a disaster waiting to happen anyway!”
Dames’s eyes filled with tears. “My project’s due tomorrow! I’m going to find Mom!”
Felicity quickly grabbed his arm. “Your mom’s given up on you! She’s not going to help you with your project.”
Pulling out her phone, Felicity scrolled through her contacts. “I’ll get some friends over here. We’ll build a fortress a thousand times better than your mom’s!”
1/3
27-26
Cropter
She started calling every guy she knew, but not one was interested in coming to the Vaughn estate to help with a kid’s craft project.
“Forget the fortress, come out for drinks! We’ll order some girls, too.”
The offer was tempting, and Felicity was all too ready to accept. “Cross my heart, I love cute girls the most~”
After hanging up, she had zero motivation left for arts and crafts. All she could think about was a wild night out with her friends.
So, Felicity hopped onto an online marketplace and dropped $40 to hire someone to do the kindergarten project for her.
After paying, she turned to Dames with renewed confidence. “Someone else is handling your project! Don’t worry–by the time you wake up tomorrow, you’ll see the most spectacular space fortress ever!”
“Really?” Dames could hardly believe it.
Felicity scooped him up ihto a hug. “When have I ever lied to you, Flick?”
Still doubtful, Dames frowned. “Mom stays up all night helping me with my homework sometimes.” Could someone on the internet really pull this off?
Felicity scoffed. “That’s her problem. Why stay up all night when you can just pay someone to do it? She just wants to act like she’s working herself to the bone in front of you.”
She grabbed his hand. “Come on, Flick, let’s go run a few laps out on the road!”
Dames’s eyes lit up. “Whoa! Are we really going racing?”
Felicity immediately put a finger to her lips. “Shh, don’t let your dad find out.”
Dames clapped his hand over his mouth. Not only did Harrison have to be kept in the dark, but if anyone in the Vaughn family found out Felicity was taking him motorbiking, he’d never get to go again.
“Flick, I wish you were my mom,” he blurted.
“Well, I’d have to marry your dad first.”
“Then just marry my dad!”
Felicity winked playfully. “That depends on how much you help me out, Dames~”
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The next morning, at school:
Dames stood at the entrance, watching as the other kids arrived with their projects, parents in tow.
Daph appeared, lugging a bag nearly half as tall as she was, with Selene by her side.
“Dames, why are you standing out here?” Daph asked, curious.
Dames clutched his shirt, chin high and stubborn. “I’m waiting for my project! Flick’s bringing my space fortress any minute now!”
He rolled his eyes at Selene. “The fortress Flick makes will look a hundred times better than Mom’s!”
