Sammy seconded that. "Yes, they're good, Mr. Wyatt."
Then the kids saw one of the dogs run after something in the grass and they went to investigate.
"They had exactly one green bean each. I'm calling that a success," Wyatt said. "Burgers are up next."
He went off to man the grill, and Rico spotted Lara and her sister rounding the corner and coming over. Rushing ahead of them, Gloria was off to join the kids. It looked like Stella was preparing for a similar maneuver. She was about to make a beeline for Mitch when Lara steered her over to greet Wyatt and Sam first.
That didn't keep her away from Mitch for long. In no time, she was all over him. She monopolized him all through dinner too.
"You could cut in, you know," Sam pointed out.
Wyatt seconded that. "Don't give her a clear playing field. Get in there."
"I think I'll leave it up to Mitch," Rico said and resisted the urge to follow their advice. He had this idea that it would be easier to tolerate what was going on from a safe distance, not with Stella rubbing up against Mitch at close range, but it was still bad.
He had to force himself to eat so he wouldn't look pathetic and make everyone ask him if he was OK. They were all having a good time and he didn't want to be a downer.
"Ahh. He's trying to lick you," Sammy said to Riley. Rico looked over just in time to see Barney swipe at Riley's face and a bunch of groans went up.
"He likes me," Riley claimed.
"He just likes licking your face because you got burger all over it," DJ told him.
Riley wasn't discouraged. He hugged Barney. "No, he likes me."
"He likes both of you," Wyatt told the boys like settling arguments about the dogs was something he had to do all the time.
After dinner was done, Rico watched Mitch wipe Sammy's face so the dogs wouldn't have to. Stella hovered nearby, but she couldn't catch Mitch's attention while he was preoccupied with his kid.
"The dogs are nice, Daddy. They wanted to lick my hands clean," she told him while making a scrunched up face as Mitch wiped off some ketchup.
Mitch grumbled. "You should wash your hands, honey."
"I know, Daddy. Mr. Wyatt said we had to. We're gonna have floating ice creams," Sammy said and then she and Mitch went inside.
Lara was going to serve up some ice cream floats, but first she had to wait for the ice cream to soften and the straws had gone missing.
"I found the straws," DJ said as he ran over and held up the box.
"Good man," Lara said.
"DJ is really good at finding stuff," Sam said and smiled down at him.
"They helped us out a lot," Wyatt said. "Riley helped me by watching my every move, and every two minutes asking if I messed up." Wyatt then indicated DJ by ruffling his hair. "And this guy helped Sam set up out here."
"He was a big help," Sam said and DJ looked shy at the praise.
But then Riley had something more important to tell his brother as he ran out of the house in alarm and tugged on his arm. "Ahh! Sammy told me she's a superhero. She's The Pink Tornado."
At this news DJ grew very serious and determined. "We have to be superheroes too," he said and then the two of them ran off.
"I'll call you when the ice cream floats are ready!" Lara yelled after them then turned to Rico suddenly. "I see what your eyes are glued to over there."
As soon as Mitch stepped outside, Stella latched on to him. Forcing himself to look away, Rico groaned. "This is where you all tell me I have nothing to worry about," he prodded them.
"Probably not," Sam said weakly.
"That girl is a damn barracuda," Lara said.
