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Amused that he cursed, I cracked a small smile. “Yeah, sounds good. Thought I’d bring dinner since I need to speak to your mom.”
He nodded, letting me in as his gaze roamed over the bags and large square box in my hands from a local restaurant most everyone in Tonopah loved. “Do I smell hot wings and pepperoni pizza?”
The hopeful expression on his face was priceless.
“Yep.”
“Good.” He lowered his voice, ticking his head down the hall. “Mom’s making spaghetti again. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but it’s the third time in a week.”
“Don’t worry, my dude,” I assured him. “I won’t say a word.”
Rev led me to the kitchen, where I found a frantic Gina rushing around to scrub countertops and the table, blushing when I arrived before she could complete the task.
“Hi, Diablo,” she greeted me nervously, wiping her hands on a cute red and white checked apron. “You’re just in time for spaghetti—”
“I brought dinner, honey. Pizza and wings. Figured you could all use a treat tonight.”
A mixture of emotions flashed through her features, finally settling on acceptance. “Thank you. I’m sure the kids will love it.”
Someone tugged on my t-shirt, and I glanced down, finding Olivia as she shyly pointed to the pizza box I placed on the table. She was a petite little thing like her mother, with dark hair and the same greenish-brown eyes as her brother.
“Are there onions on the pizza?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m not a fan. You?”
She shook her head.
“I love pepperoni and extra cheese. Simple and delicious.”
She smiled, quickly glancing at her mom. “May I have three slices?”
“Olivia,” Gina admonished.
“No,” I answered, loving that I could make these kids happy with such a simple thing. “You can have six.”
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Wh-what? Really?”
“I’m having six, too,” Rev declared, opening the box as I chuckled.
“I had them cut the pizza into squares. Makes it easier to hold one in each hand.”
The kids rushed in, pulling their pieces from the box as I heard Gina sigh. “You’d think I didn’t feed them.”
“Eh, they’re growing. Hard to fill them up this young.”
I opened the box of wings, taking out the cups of ranch and blue cheese dressing for dipping. “There’re wings that are extra hot and barbecue ones that aren’t spicy. You can use the sauce to dip them if you like. Or there’s carrots and celery too.”
Rev gathered a half dozen hot wings on his plate, along with two cups of blue cheese. He grinned as he tore into a drumstick, smearing hot sauce across his chin.
Gina handed them both napkins, giving up on teaching any manners. “Goodness.”
Laughing, I didn’t mind. Rev and Olivia were adorable.
“Mr. Diablo?”
“Yeah, Olivia?”
“I want to try one barbecue wing and ranch.”
