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Aria glanced at Gareth before looking back at his mom. “If you’re sure…”
“I’m very sure. Not everyone will be there since Cole, Jay, and Skylar are going out with the team for pizza to celebrate the win. It’s tradition.”
“What are we having, Mom?” Janessa asked. “Maybe Aria wants to make sure she’ll like the food before agreeing to join us.”
“Oh no,” Aria said hurriedly. “I’m sure whatever you serve will be just fine.”
Gareth’s mom laughed as she straightened. “Well, to answer your question, darling, we’re having beef stew. It’s been in the crock-pot all day, plus I made some fresh rolls.”
“That sounds lovely,” Aria said.
“Are we invited too?” Jackson asked as he gave Gareth’s mom a pathetic hangdog look. “Otherwise, we’ll starve to death.”
“Now, while I don’t believe you’ll be starving to death any time soon, you boys are both always welcome to join us.”
Jackson and Wade high-fived each other while Gareth shook his head at their antics. People might have said that as men in their early thirties, they should behave more befitting their age. However, given how serious Gareth had had to be throughout most of his adult life, he enjoyed the lighthearted moments he had now with his family and friends. Plus, they both knew when acting a little crazy was acceptable and when it wasn’t.
With plans for dinner settled, they all filed down off the bleachers. Cole came jogging over, and they congratulated him on his game. His excitement still lingered on his face, and Gareth was glad he didn’t take moments like these for granted.
“Good job passing today,” Gareth said as he slapped him on the shoulder.
“Jay’s been making us run laps if we hog the ball, and none of us like that.”
“I guess negative reinforcement works if positive doesn’t.” Gareth gestured to where Aria stood talking to Janessa and his parents. “This was Aria’s first ever basketball game, and you put on a good show. She really enjoyed herself.”
Cole grinned. “Nice to know I can impress the ladies.”
“Hah.” Gareth punched his shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry about impressing her. Think of her like she’s your sister.”
Cole’s brows lifted. “Are you calling dibs?”
“I most certainly amnot,” Gareth said, though he was surprised by the passing thought that maybe he should.
“Maybe if he’s not, I should,” Jackson said as he bumped his elbow against Gareth’s.
Gareth narrowed his gaze at his two friends and Cole. “No one is calling dibs.”
Cole just laughed as he backed away. “Gotta go. Talk to you later!”
He spun on his heel and jogged off toward the locker room. People were leaving the gym now that all the excitement was over.
“We’ll see you at the house in a bit,” his mom said before she and his dad walked off hand in hand.
The rest of them didn’t linger in the gym now that the game was over. When the group reached the parking lot, they each went to their separate vehicles.
Gareth drove straight to the big house that had been his home for most of his growing-up years. He hadn’t spent the first couple of years of his life in that house, however. Back then, his parents hadn’t had plans to have such a big family. But once it became clear that their family was growing by leaps and bounds, they’d built a home that suited their large family.
It was almost too much now, though, since only Skylar and Cole lived at home full-time, and in the fall, even Cole would be gone. However, Gareth doubted that his folks would sell the house. They still loved to have all the family spend the night for special events like Christmas Eve.
He'd just parked in front of the house when a couple of other cars pulled in beside him. Getting out, he saw that Aria had come with Janessa and Charli, while Jackson and Wade had come together in Jackson’s truck.
A deep bark greeted them from the porch where Bella, their golden lab, waited. She was getting up in years, so she rarely bounded down the steps to greet them anymore. Layla, however, was happy to bound up the porch steps to lavish the big dog with lots of love. The rest of them followed at a slightly more sedate pace.
“This is Bella,” Layla announced when Aria stepped onto the porch. “Bella, this is Aria. She’s really nice. I think you’ll like her.”
Bella’s soft woof in response had them all chuckling.
“We’re honestly not sure if the dog really understands Layla,” Janessa said. “But it sure seems like she does sometimes.”
