AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Damn, Dad, you didn’t play around.” Dean whistled as he took two packs of soda from him.
“Well, shouldn’t family dinners be a thing once in a while?” he countered. “I like having you all here. Plus, it sounds like everyone could use a night where they can’t be stalked.”
“Cheers to that,” I said as I started unloading cans and ice into the coolers. “You got a fire pit out there?”
Grant gave a cheshire grin. “A girl after my own heart. Of course, I do.”
It was amazing how easily we all worked together, even our newest pack mate. We worked side by side until we had the food prepared and on the grill, sides going, fire roaring, and music playing.
“You know, this is what I always imagined it was like having a real family,” I said. Everyone around me froze, wide-eyed and I winced. “Sorry, didn’t mean that to sound so damn dark.”
“Your parents didn’t do this kind of thing?” Grant asked.
“Nah, they threw parties and we were fed and sent to bed before guests arrived. We had birthday parties but it was never even about us or our favorite things. We siblings kept each other sane but this is what I always wanted,” I admitted. “Laughing, music, just hanging out like this.”
“Well, family dinners are now definitely a thing,” Grant said while Collin pulled out his phone.
“Hey, pick up Tori and swing by dad’s house. Meat’s on the grill, bonfire going, you’re just missing.” He paused while Micah talked back and laughed. “It was impromptu and definitely beats leftovers.”
“Tori and Micah are on their way,” he said, giving me a wink.
Ellie
The fire was roaring and the aroma of steaks on the grill filled the air. My stomach growled loudly but no one called me out for it.
“The party has arrived!” Tori’s voice called out as she danced her way through the open kitchen door and outside.
Micah was right behind her sporting a Hawaiian shirt. The bright colors and his wide grin had me laughing.
“Why are you in full ‘suburban dad’ mode?” I called out. He held his hands out wide and spun in a circle.
“This is the height of fashion, little sister,” he chided playfully. “You could take a lesson or two from me. Grass stains are for twelve year olds.”
“Hey! Those are hard-earned gardening stripes!” Grant defended from behind the grill, his tongs waving in the air.
“What’s the occasion?” Micah asked. The question had the mood flatlining. “Shit, did I strike a nerve?”
“No, Morgan did,” Grant supplied. “She showed up in town tonight.”
“Oh god,” Tori said. “I’ve been waiting for this. Keep your bail money close.”
“Gladly,” I muttered before going inside. We’d worked on the sides but now that he was pulling the steaks off the grill, I wanted to make sure everything was good to go.
Of course, Tori followed me inside, ready to begin the interrogation.
“How are you handling Morgan’s untimely arrival?” she demanded as she stepped in beside me, helping get the salad thrown together.
“Not well,” I said. “But what choice do we have? We just kind of threw this together to hide out for one last night before shit hits the fan.”
“So, if I beat her ass?” Tori asked, nudging me with her hip.
“Better you than me,” I said. “You know I won’t cry for her.”
“I have a feeling she’ll jump right in on trying to wreck your pack,” Tori said. “Don’t let it get in your head.”
“She brought the paparazzi. Which by the way feels so pretentious. We’re hardly celebrities,” I said with an eye roll. “She’s milking this way too far.”
“That’s all she has in life.” Tori snorted. “She needs to just find a sugar daddy that doesn’t care if she sleeps around.”
