“Hey!Hands off, buddy.First of all, that’s dessert, and secondly, it’s your brother’s cake, not yours.”
I snatch the box away from him, I wouldn’t put it past him to swipe his fingers through the icing like a three-year-old.When it comes to food, Lincoln has little restraint.The kid eats like a damn blue whale, just opening his mouth and inhaling it in as he moves through the kitchen.
When I got home fifteen minutes ago, the house was littered with discarded wrappers, a depleted chip bag, two apple cores, and an empty box that held the shortbread cookies I’d hidden in the drawer with the kitchen towels.My eldest is a one-man flock of locusts.
“Go put your laundry away like I asked you yesterday.It’s still all over the dining table and I’d rather not be serving dinner with your sports socks and boxers next to the plates.”
The halved mini potatoes are boiling in the pot, so I drain them in the sink before tossing them in a bowl with the dressing I threw together earlier.
“I don’t understand why we suddenly need to eat at the table,” Linc grumbles.
He reaches over my shoulder to try and steal a potato, but earns a crisp slap on his hand.
“I told you; Clem is coming for dinner.”
Grabbing a fistful of chives and my kitchen scissors, I snip pieces straight into the cooling potatoes.
“Why is that again?”he asks, propping his hip against the counter as he sticks close to the food.Biding his time for an opportunity when I’m not looking.
“Because it’s Remi’s birthday, and Clem has been very kind to your brother.To all of us, really.Inviting him for burgers is the least we can do.Besides, Clem is a nice guy, I like him.”
“But that means less for us.”
Trust my kid to skip right over my cue that I’m interested in Clem and circle back to the food.
“No, because I made more than I usually do.Just go clean up your stuff.Please,” I add, batting my eyelashes at him.
He rolls his eyes, but pushes away from the counter.
“Fine,” he grumbles.
“Thank you.”
I beam a smile at him, but when I turn to rinse my hands in the sink, he quickly reaches around me and snags a potato from the bowl, popping it in his mouth as he walks away, laughing.
“I hope that burned the roof of your mouth!”I call after him.
Knowing Linc, he’ll probably take anyone I choose to date in stride, as he does most things in life, but I suspect my youngest might take issue.Especially, since Clem is someone he likes.
I haven’t seen Remi since we got home.He took off upstairs with the new cell phone I gave him for his birthday this morning.I handed it over and explained his temporary restrictions.I don’t want him handing out his new phone number or talking to anyone he doesn’t know in person, and he is not to sign on to his social media accounts, download any apps, or join any chat groups.He was less than pleased with those instructions, but as I pointed out to him, it was his chance to earn back some of the trust he’d lost.
I hold no illusions his relatively easy compliance today will last.Remi is a rebel by nature, much like yours truly was, and I fully expect us to butt heads soon enough again.
With my potato salad cooling as it soaks up the dressing, I dive into the fridge, digging for the bag of kale salad I picked up on the weekend.I bought it for me—the boys won’t eat it—but Clem might like it too.It’ll make for a slightly more balanced meal.
When I have everything in here ready, I grab the tray of burgers I stuck in the fridge, shove my feet in the pair of Crocs I keep by the back door, and head out on the deck.I didn’t bother putting on a jacket, but damn, is it chilly.My breath is visible when it hits the cold air, and the frosty breeze cuts right through my sweater.
After checking the temperature gauge is where I want it, I quickly toss the burgers on the grill.Then I close the lid, and rush back inside, just in time to see Linc opening the front door for Clem.I hadn’t even heard the doorbell.
For a brief moment his eyes find mine, before he turns to greet Linc.I head to the sink to wash my hands, while my son takes care of our guest, taking his coat and showing him in.Drying my hands on a towel, I turn to find Clem walking into my kitchen.
“Hey.”
I smile at him, as I catch a glimpse of Linc darting up the stairs with the remainder of his clean laundry in his arms.Clem grins back and stops two feet in front of me.On impulse, but without hesitation, I bridge the distance and rise on my toes to kiss him.Not much more than a firm press of my lips to his, but a clear message I like him in my space.At least I hope it is.
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure, what’ve you got?”
