Page 75 of Catch the Sun

Oh, my god. It’sanotherBrynn!.

I can’t help but return the smile because it’s impossible not to. “Hey.” I give them a little wave that feels lame and listless compared to the greeting I’ve received. Then I frown with confusion. “Uh, Halloween was last month. It’s almost Thanksgiving.”

“Halloween lasts until Christmas Eve around here,” one man says.

“Hocus Pocusis always in season,” adds the other.

I blink slowly. “Oh.”

Brynn! skips between the two men and waves madly at me. “Ella!” she calls out, her enthusiasm on another level. “You finally get to meet my dads. This is Daddy Matty,” she says, pointing to the blond man. “And this is Papa Pete. I call them Daddio and Pops.”

Max and McKay are seated side by side on the red floral sofa. Max shoots me a small smile, his eyes sparkling.

I blink back to Matty and Pete. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. Thank you for the fruit tray when I was sick.”

“Sugar is the only thing that works for me when I have a lung infection,” Pete says, sliding the spatula into his waistband. “Feeling better?”

“I am.”

“It was the sugar.”

I grin. “Antibiotics are overrated.”

Brynn! trots forward in her knee-high cowboy boots and denim skirt, plopping down beside McKay on the couch. As soon as she sits, the doorbell rings and she jumps back to her feet.

“Oh, it’s Kai! We’ve been bonding in art class, so I invited him. I hope that’s okay?” She glances at me before moving to the front door. “I know it’s your birthday. I hope I didn’t infringe.”

“Of course not. Kai is awesome.”

Kai trudges through the threshold, looking timid and supremely out of place. He glances between the five of us, brushing jet-black bangs out of his eyes and slamming his hands in his pockets. “Hi.”

“Kai!” both fathers and Brynn! announce at the same time while Kai stands there like a cat at a dog show.

Five minutes later, our group shuffles out the door in preparation for our hour-plus drive to Knoxville.

Matty hollers from the porch step as we make our way to the slew of vehicles packed in the driveway. “There will be treats aplenty when you get back! Spiderweb taco dip, hot dog mummies, graveyard cake, and my ultra-famous bat wings. Mwahaha!”

Pete quickly snags the spatula from his waistband and shoves it in Matty’s face. “Redo that.”

“Mwahaha!” Matty repeats into the spatula.

A giggle falls out of me as we all wave goodbye and I beeline to the back seat of Max’s truck.

“You’re riding shotgun with me,” Max says.

McKay grumbles. “Hell, no. I always ride shotgun. Ladies can do their girlie gossip in the back.” When Kai clears his throat, McKay adds, “And Kai.”

“Actually, let’s take two cars,” Max suggests. “Brynn, are you cool driving?”

“Sure!” she chirps.

“Then we need two DDs,” McKay snaps.

“A non-issue. You’re the only one with whiskey in your Coke.”

“We don’t need two rides, Max. Waste of gas. We can all fit.”

“I want some alone time with Ella.”

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