Page 50 of Beginning Fate

“Step away from our food,” I told him.

“No way you ordered all of this for just the two of you.”

“Actually, I did.”

“Come on, Denny. I'm starving.”

“Then go find your own food.”

“Can I call leftovers when you're done?”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“That was a yes, right Lauren?”

She shrugged. “I'm already full.”

He eyed me hopefully.

“Are you sure? You only had one plate.”

She snorted. “I'm not shy about food, especially when so plentiful, but there's no way I'm eating that much either.”

“But you're actually full?”

“Yes,” she said, laughing at me. “I'm not just saying that to be nice because he's begging like a damn dog.”

Remy grinned. “I ain't too proud to beg. I'm hungry.”

I polished off the last of my plate and quickly washed up our dishes while making him stand there and watch. When Lauren got up to help, I shooed her away.

“I can do those for you. I'm sure you two would much rather have some alone time,” he offered just as Caleb walked in with Braxton right behind him.

“Who wants alone time?”

“Denny and Lauren.”

“Yeah, fine. Just clean up after yourselves.”

“We always do, El Presidente,” Remy said sarcastically.

I took Lauren's hand and led her out of the room.

“You heard the man, get to cleaning their dishes. He left enough for all of us if you guys are hungry.”

“Starving,” Braxton confessed.

“I'm on it.”

Caleb seemed to actually enjoy cleaning and made sure the others towed the line and kept our frat house uncharacteristically clean. I remembered the early days of my time here and the filth the house had been in. I much preferred this and hoped that we were instilling better habits for future generations. It was all part of my legacy, or at least what I envisioned it would be.

Several of the guys had taken up residency in the living room. Kevin and Joseph were on the Xbox playing the newest game created by our former brother Jackson Holt. I wasn't reallyinto gaming, but I kept up with the latest and greatest to support him. Lately all the hottest games were coming out from Holt Gaming.

“Do you game?” I asked Lauren.

“No, never.”

I had suspected as much, but sometimes people surprised you. Closet gamers were a very real thing. And around here they seemed to come out of woodwork because we always got the newest games before they even released, thanks to Jackson.

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