Page 67 of Outnumbered

Deryn nodded. “Dad spent a lot of money and time finding the best recipes that he could to craft the best recipes and best pizzas available.”

“We were also guinea pigs a lot for this,” Fox said and scowled. “The first pizzas were awful.”

“Some were super thick, cakey almost,” Rhys said with his brows furrowed. “These are so much better.”

“Remember the pizza he made where he put the toppings under the cheese?” Deryn asked and shook his head. “Everyone hated it.”

“People are used to things in a certain way and the toppings being on top of the cheese is one of them,” Fox said. “Although, I personally liked it being under the cheese as it kept it from falling off as you ate it.”

“Right?” Nico yelled. “It was perfect for parties where people were drunk and ended up dropping toppings on the floor.”

Take a seat on the arm of the couch next to Branson, I listened silently, I enjoyed hearing about the strange and random issues they had encountered as they grew up, things that still transcended time. I wished this had been more of my life.

“What are your favorite pizza toppings, Ember?” Fox asked.

“Salami, olives, and pineapple,” I answered.

Deryn and Rhys groaned.

“Pineapple, really?” Deryn asked. “It does not belong on pizza.”

I rolled my eyes.

“It is a staple pizza topping,” Caleb countered. “Why else would Papa Dan offer it?”

“Because weirdos, like Ember apparently, like it,” Rhys said and shook his head.

“You like sweet and sour chicken which has pineapple, but you’re going to say suddenly, sweet and sour foods don’t go together? Nah. You’re just being ridiculous,” I countered and finished eating my slice.

“She’s got a point,” Jolie said and shrugged. “I don’t like pineapple on my pizza, but she’s got a point about the tastes.”

“Don’t help her and her gross tendencies,” Riddick said. “It’s weird.”

“You’re weird,” I countered, obviously not providing a good argument.

“And yet, you still spend your time with me,” Riddick said with a smirk.

“What’s your ideal pizza?” I asked Caleb. “Let me guess, all meat?”

He opened his mouth and shut it. “What’s wrong with all meat?”

Everyone laughed.

“Nothing, handsome. Absolutely nothing,” I crooned.

“Favorite dessert?” Fox asked as he looked at us.

Clearly, they all knew their favorite desserts already.

“I don’t have a single favorite,” I admitted. “I like cheesecakes, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, and more.”

“What about birthday cake flavored ice cream with chocolate covered cheesecake chunks?” Rhys asked.

I gasped. “That sounds amazing.”

“That does sound amazing,” Jolie agreed.

“What’s your favorite dessert?” I asked Riddick.

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