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“You can thank my dad. He completely overdid it—like he usually does.” Her cheeks went pink, and it was fucking adorable.
“Well, he was a lifesaver this year,” Nova replied. Her attention drifted to me and Lacie. She gave us a friendly smile. “Hey Royal, and it’s Lacie, right? Sorry, my memory is terrible lately.”
Lacie nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh God, please don’t call me ma’am. You’ll make me feel older than I am.” Nova waved her hand dismissively as she wrinkled her nose. “Please, call me Nova.” I knew she was only a handful of years older than me, so I understood. But I’d tried to raise Lacie to have manners, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Baby, I told you to sit down and put your feet up,” Smoke chastised as he approached his wife.
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “Just a little pinch in my back. I think I slept wrong last night. Maybe you could work it out for me later.”
Smoke grinned wickedly. “Oh, I’d be happy to help you out.”
Nova rolled her eyes, but I saw the hint of a smile that she tried to hide. “Of course you would. But I came out to tell everyone that the food is ready whenever people want to grab a plate.”
Smoke loudly whistled and then made the announcement. People started heading in, but I figured I’d wait for everyone else to fill their plates. Besides, Luna hadn’t made a move to go, and I liked being near her.
A little curly-haired blonde girl charged up to me. “Uncle Royal!”
“Little Elvis!” I teased in a playful mimic of her excited tone. She giggled. Since the day I’d stopped by their house last week, she’d happily adopted me as another “uncle.”
“You gotta come with to get food!” she exclaimed as she tugged on my hand.
“Presley!” Raiven snapped in an exasperated sigh. Her little boy, Memphis, was on her hip, and he was busy trying to pick off his mom’s tattoos. Then he twisted around, obviously looking for his dad. His arms reached out, and he leaned heavily away as Lock approached. I couldn’t help but grin. He was cute as hell—just like his big sister.
Raiven met my gaze as Lock took his son into his arms. “I’m so sorry. She’s done nothing but talk about you since you stopped by the house.”
“It’s very irritating,” Gunny grumbled when he walked up with his wife and son. I thought her name was Avery, but I was still learning everyone’s names. Gunny then confirmed it. “Royal, this is my wife, Avery, and our son, Tristan.”
Holding out my hand, I smiled. “Royal. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Laughing, she shook my hand. “You can call me Avery.”
Tristan kept his head on his mom’s shoulder as he sucked on his thumb and stared at me with big, bright eyes.
“This is my sister Lacie,” I said as I motioned toward her. “And her friend Luna.”
“Ahhh, the bringer of insanely bougie food,” Lock said with a grin as he directed his comment toward Luna.
Luna’s cheeks went the same rosy pink that they did when I talked dirty to her in bed. If a minute ago hadn’t been enough, my dick immediately came to attention, and I knew I shouldn’t have even thought that.
“That was all my father,” she explained. “Since he couldn’t be here for the holiday, he felt bad and wanted to make sure Lacie and I had a nice dinner. When he found out we got the invite here, he asked for the address. I had no idea he would double the amount of everything.”
“Hey, we never complain about extra food. We’re growing boys,” Gunny chimed in.
“In your gut, maybe.” Lock poked his brother in the stomach and snickered.
“What the fuck ever,” Gunny grumbled.
“Jax! Cornfields!” Avery chastised, her eyes wide.
“Cornfields?” I asked in confusion as I glanced from Avery to Gunny and back. I felt like I’d missed an inside joke.
“She got it from our mom. Cornfields have ears. Get it? I’ll introduce you to our parents when they get back from Aruba. They’re great,” Gunny explained with a grin.
“Can we eat now?” Presley interrupted, obviously tired of waiting on all the grownup chitchat. “My tummy is hungry and so is Memphis’s.”
“Oh is it? Let me see,” Raiven said to Presley as she crouched down and tickled her and pressed her ear to her daughter’s belly in question. Presley giggled and wiggled before Raiven stood back up and took her small hand in hers. “Let’s go get you something to put in that empty little stomach.”
