When he’s done, he leans back and pats his stomach, looking completely satisfied with himself.
“I can’t move. You’ll have to roll me outside.”
“I have a wheelchair somewhere,” Sem says. “Found it at the scrapyard.”
“Cool, dude. Bring it to me.”
I eye him and then stand, taking his plate to the kitchen. I think he’s being honest when he says he’s unable to move. I’ve never seen anyone eat so much food in one sitting.
I was never allowed to eat like that.
If I was allowed to eat at all.
“So dramatic,” Aunt Del says with a large smile when I return to the dining room. “I bet I’ll see you sneaking more food in half an hour.”
“That sounds like Caleb. He’s always insatiable. Never can wait too long before asking for more.”
When Caleb eyes me, I give him a small smirk.
“Because I was deprived as a child,” Caleb replies.
His uncle smacks him on the back of the head, and Caleb rubs at it, looking slightly ashamed.
“What was that for? You know how it was.”
His uncle just grumbles. “You had it good, son. Your mom did the best she could. We all did.”
His mood changes then, swallowing roughly. “Yeah. I know she did.”
I feel the tension in the room before Aunt Del changes the subject.
“Whit, come sit a minute. No cleaning up yet. Have we told you the stories of all the trouble Caleb got into growing up?”
“I’ve heard it mentioned, but nothing specific.”
I lower myself into the chair next to Caleb and shake my head. My hand slips into his, and Caleb brings it to his mouth, kissing my fingers softly.
His uncle shakes his head and lets out a small laugh. “Those boys were always in trouble. Still are. You should know what you’re getting into before walking down the aisle to this guy.”
“Don’t pretend like you weren’t in on it too, old man,” Caleb retorts.
“A few times,” he admits and then leans forward to whisper, “Don’t tell your aunt. She’ll kill me.”
“Oh, I already know,” Aunt Del says, then adds, “It was very irresponsible, Daniel.”
His uncle laughs loudly at that, and I eye Caleb, now realizing where he got it from. Seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Sem, Luke, Liam, and Anne amble in, and they take seats at the table as they reminisce about all the stupid shit they did growing up.
I can’t help but be horrified by what they got up to.
“It’s amazing you made it out alive,” I murmur as I walk into the kitchen to finish the dishes.
“I know,” Caleb chuckles, and my mouth turns down into a frown.
“You could have blown yourself up. Putting batteries into a fire. Jesus, Caleb.”
He rubs at the back of his neck and looks a little sheepish. “We were curious what would happen.”
