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“Wow. Rude, Ames,” Jesse says, fake sniffling. “I thought you liked me.”
“I like you, but after all the bullshit between you two, I’m surprised you still like each other.” Amelia gives him a sweet-as-pie smile.
My eyebrows shoot up at that.
Dani snickers.
“Moments when I wish our entire friend group didn’t know about that,” Rae mutters.
“Or that he hadn’t stuck his—”
“Baby, behave,” I say sternly, as Amelia fights back a grin.
She lifts an eyebrow in challenge but doesn’t say anything.
“Damn,” Mackie says. “You’re savage sometimes.”
Amelia shrugs. “I call it like I see it. Plus, giving shit seems to be a love language here, no?”
“Ah, she’s catching on,” Amanda says with a laugh.
“She’s not supposed to beat us at our own game yet,” Rae says in mock irritation.
Amelia slides her arm around Dani’s waist. “What can I say? I know she’s your cousin, but I’ve claimed her and I’m protective—and will give people shit on her behalf.”
Dani leans her head against Amelia’s and says, “That’s why I love you.”
I chuckle at that. I like seeing them together. Amelia’s been through so much, and I know how hard it is for her to open up to people, but seeing her with Dani is a reminder of all the love she has inside her—love I think will only grow within this group of friends and family.
Jesse smacks my arm. “You ever get the feeling they like each other better than they like us?”
“If Sarah was here, she’d wrap her arm around my back right now and say that’s exactly how it should be,” Rae says. “You two aren’t related, but you give off that sister vibe.”
Amelia throws her head back laughing as Dani points at Rae. “Don’t you dare tell Olivia that. She’ll throw a fit. Even if it’s true,” she mumbles under her breath.
We’re all laughing when Aaron walks in the back door with Trevor, both of them carrying sheet trays of grilled meat. “And the meat is ready,” Aaron says.
Rae claps her hands. “Which means it’s time to eat. Hallelujah. I need tacos.”
“You always need tacos,” Amanda says with a laugh.
“Because tacos are a food of the gods. Change my mind.”
“Like we’d ever bother trying to convince you of that,” Mackie says. “But I’m down with eating because the sooner we eat dinner, the sooner we get dessert, and I know you made Oreo cheesecake brownies.”
I whip my head around to look at Rae, my eyes lighting up. “Really?”
“Mhm. But you can’t eat the whole tray like you used to in college.” She gives me a pointed look.
“Fine. I’ll only have two… or three.”
“You have a problem.”
She shoves me toward a chair and I smile. A lot has changed in the last few months, but moments like this are a nice reminder that some thingsneverchange, and I’d never want them to.
“Miles Hyun-Hansen!”
I shove the rest of the brownie I’m eating into my mouth, chewing as fast as I can as Rae strolls across the back deck toward me, hands on her hips. I lost count of how many brownies I’ve eaten, but this is at least number six. I’d apologize, but I swear Rae laces her brownies with crack. She’s always been a great baker, and even though I’m done growing, I’m still a bottomless pit most days.
