He frowns. “This is like the smallest bag.”
“It is not,” I argue. “Look, it even saysshareableon it.”
“Yeah, but you were supposed to get the party size one.”
“Go eat an apple,” Reid says, thrusting the apple into Quint’s chest and nearly bowling him over in the process.
Quint bends over dramatically. “What are you trying to do? Shove it through my chest?”
Tessa and Slater come into the kitchen. “What’s the deal with you?” Tessa asks. “Ooo, Twizzlers. Thank you!” She snags the bag and tries to shove the whole thing in her pocket.
I hear the front door open and my brother call out, “We’re here.”
Zane and Evie appear in the kitchen a moment later. Evie takes in the snacks on the counter and frowns. “Who got apples for a movie day?”
Quint looks over at Reid and me. “See?” He turns back to Evie. “Reid and Riley were in charge of snacks.”
“Oh, that’s a mistake. Riley is as healthy as Zane,” Evie says. She glances over at me apologetically. “Sorry but it’s true.”
I walk over to the counter where the food is laid out. I hold up the bag of peanut butter M and M’s. “These are not healthy. Tessa’s licorice is certainly not healthy.”
“But good,” she calls out from the living room where she and Slate have already disappeared to.
“And kettle corn is not healthy.” I point to the box in Evie’s hand. “And this.” I hold up my trail mix. “This has chocolate pieces in it.”
Evie and Quint exchange a glance. “Do you want to tell her, or should I?” Quint asks loudly, and I roll my eyes.
“You are impossible.”
My words don’t faze Quint in the least. “Thanks!”
I take a breath and remind myself not to throw something at the annoying shifter. A hand lands at my back a moment later, and suddenly my irritation fades away. “You’ll learn to ignore him like the rest of us do,” Reid says next to my ear.
“I can hear you,” Quint says in response.
“Yep,” Zane contributes. “That’s what I do.”
Quint turns to him with a scowl. “You don’t even live here anymore.”
“And I am so incredibly thankful for that,” he says with a grin as he pulls Evie close to his side.
“Come on, People,” Tessa calls from the living room. “Time is a-wasting.”
“She’s just saying that because she’s going to eat all her licorice before the movie starts,” Evie says as she starts the microwave for her popcorn.
I look over to see Reid cutting up the apples, so I search for a small bowl for peanut butter. I put a good serving of peanut butter in the bowl and drop in a bunch of honey roasted peanuts. I grab two water bottles—one for Reid and one for me and head out to the living room. Evie and Tessa are already on the couch. “Riley, come join us,” Evie says, patting the empty couch cushion next to her. I don’t hesitate to join them. I know the guys won’t; they’ll leave the couch for us because that’s just how they are. Quint drops into the oversized chair, and Slate drops to the floor in front of Tessa and leans against the couch. Zane puts a hand out and pulls Evie to her feet and takes her seat before pulling her onto his lap. I look away, smiling. I should have figured that’s what my brother would do.
Quint stands to his feet. “That was a smooth move. I should try that.” He locks his gaze on me and walks over to the couch.
“Don’t even think about it,” I tell him when he gets close.
“But Reid’s not even in here,” he complains.
“Try it and you won’t be able to walk for a week,” Reid says, appearing next to me.
Quint grimaces. “Uh, yeah, no thanks. I’d like to keep all my body parts intact.”
“Then you’d better get all your body parts away from my mate,” Reid says as he hands me the cutting board of apples.
