Page 138 of Downpour

“Who else is coming tonight?” Brooke asked as she looked around.

It seemed like we were the last to show up. CJ was already here, talking to Nate and Becks. My dad had their daughter, Charlie, on his knee as he read her a story. Christian and Gracie were on the couch. Bree was pacing in the corner, looking at her phone.

It looked like Cassandra was the only one missing.

“One of the bigwig investors in the restaurant was here today to look at the damage from the fire,” Mom said. “Cass called a little while ago and said their meeting was running long, so I offered to have everyone up here for dinner.”

A car pulled down the drive, and Bree bolted past us and onto the porch.

Christian jumped off the couch.

Mom looked at me and Bree. “And your brother compromised with his daughter. Bree can’t go on dates with the boy just yet, but he’s allowed to join us for dinner.”

“This is going to be entertaining,” I said to Brooke as I wheeled into the house.

She laughed. “Have a little faith. I think it’s sweet that Christian came around.”

“This kid doesn’t know what he’s in for.”

The door opened, and the living and dining rooms went silent as Bree walked in, holding the hand of some floppy-haired, good-for-nothing punk.

“Be nice,” Brooke whispered.

“Well, hey there,” Mom said to the future corpse. “You must be Mason. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Bree’s grandma.”

“Hi, Mrs. Griffith,” Mason stammered out. He spotted Gracie and offered a wave. “Hey.”

Gracie gave him a chin tip. “‘Sup.”

“This is my Uncle Ray and Brooke,” Bree said, braving the gauntlet as she led the kid I wanted to barbecue into the house.

“Nice to meet you, Mason,” Brooke said with a sweet-as-pie smile as she jabbed her elbow into my shoulder.

“Hi. Uh…” Mason looked down at me and cleared his throat. “Bree’s told me a lot about you. She said you’re her favorite uncle.”

“Hey!” CJ and Nate shouted from the living room.

Brooke snickered.

Mason squeezed Bree’s hand. “But, uh… I’m a big fan, actually.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I said. “There’s plenty of space out here to hide a body, and you’re not that big.”

Brooke dropped her head into her hands. “Please excuse Bree’s uncles. They’re still being house-trained.”

Bree giggled.

I looked at Bree and tipped my head toward Christian, who had come up behind me. “Better get it over with, squirt.”

Bree looked up at her father with doe eyes. “Daddy, this is Mason. Mason, this is my dad.”

Mason’s Adam’s apple bobbed like a cartoon. “Hello, sir.”

Christian silently crossed his arms over his chest, and worry filled Bree’s eyes. I pulled against the wheels and backed my wheelchair up and over his foot.

“Hey!” he shouted, jumping back. “What the hell? That hurt.”

“My bad,” I said innocently as I tossed a wink to Bree.

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