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"I'm just trying—"
Lisa cuts me off. "I know what you're doing, and I'm not having any of it."
"You better listen to her, Ember." Raine smirks.
"Fine," I huff. "I'm going."
"Here." Lisa passes me a platter of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies. "Take this with you. The cookies should hold the kids at bay until dinner is made. Just make sure Quinn doesn't see them."
I laugh. "Fat chance."
Lisa looks thoughtful. "You're right. Give him this." She walks over to the refrigerator and rummages around until she finds what she's looking for; a container of last night's leftover spaghetti and meatballs.
"Shouldn't you warm it up first?" Raine asks.
"He won't care," Lisa tosses out.
I do as I'm told and return to where the club has gathered for a cookout. Jake, Grace, Logan, and Bella showed up early this morning and announced they were bringing the whole family together. Jake figured with both Blake's and my sisters showing up, it was the perfect way to welcome them and for everyone to get to know each other. By noon the whole clan had arrived, including Demetri and Glory. I, of course, did what I always do when we have the club together, which is to help with the cooking. But I was given strict orders from Jake and Lisa to spend the day with my sister.
"Need some help, baby?" Blake takes the platter of cookies from my hand. Like they have a sugar radar, several kids cheer as they come barreling toward us. One of the first kids to reach us is Gabe, Alba's little boy. He reaches out, snatching up four cookies while the rest of the brood nearly bring Blake down as little hands wrestle for their take. I watch Gabe trek across the lawn to the swing set, where his little sister waits patiently with a huge smile. Then I witness him handing over three cookies to Val, keeping one for himself.
My attention shifts away from the kids when I spot Quinn striding this way, rubbing his hands together. "Are there any cookies left for me?"
"Sorry, brother," Blake offers. "The rugrats beat ya to them."
"What?" Quinn looks crestfallen. "That's not fair." He starts looking around the yard. His gaze lands on Jake and Bella, with Logan's son sitting on top of one of the picnic tables, holding a stack of cookies. I cover my mouth to hide my smile because I know what Jake is doing, and so does Quinn. "Dammit. He does this every time."
Blake slaps Quinn on the shoulder. "Don't hate the player, brother. Hate the game."
"Yeah, well, the player made me pay him five bucks last week for the last brownie. His prices have been increasing," he grumbles.
"Well, I don't have any cookies, but here." I hand Quinn the container of cold spaghetti I've been holding, and he eagerly takes it from me and pops the lid. Fork in hand, he begins shoveling the spaghetti into his mouth.
"Damn, Quinn." Blake looks disgusted. "You're not going to heat that shit first?"
Quinn pauses, looking thoughtful, then shrugs. "If you two will excuse me, I need to see a man about some cookies."
"There is seriously something wrong with him," I giggle.
Later that evening, we all gather around the fire after filling our bellies with good food. I'm sitting on Blake's lap, my head on his chest, listening to the low rumble of conversation around me as my eyes grow heavy. I watch Austin step behind Jake and mutter something close to his ear, and Jake's attention becomes alert.
The conversation halts, and all eyes are now on Jake, who taps Grace's leg, a signal for her to get up from where she's perched on his lap, a worried look on her face.
No longer feeling sleepy, I stand, and Blake follows. "What is it, Prez?" he asks.
"Austin says there is a man and woman at the gate." Jake looks at Blake. "They say they're here to pick up their daughter."
My first thought is someone has come for Bellamy. I reach out to Blake, who says, "That is not fuckin' happenin', Prez."
"Baby, get the kids inside," Jake tells Grace, then jerks his chin at Blake. "Let's go."
Blake falls in beside Jake, and the other men quickly follow suit.
Scarlett rushes up to me. "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with Bellamy."
"You don't think Blake will let them take her, do you?" Raine asks.
