Page 78 of The Baller

“Parker loves Scout, but Scout has a new boyfriend. Her new boyfriend works for the Rangers, and they’re going to the Rangers Halloween party. Scout put it on her social media this week, so we’re boycotting.”

“What?” Holiday snatched up a strawberry from Tanner’s plate. “I’m not talking about the Rangers. There’s more than one Halloween party.”

“Yeah, but Halloween is tainted.”

The look Holiday was throwing at Parker and her brother perfectly summed up the confusion I felt. “That makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense to Parker,” snapped Tanner. “We’re staying in. If you want to stay with us, we’re ordering pizza and eating brownies. You can still wear your Power Ranger costume, but we’re staying in. End of discussion.”

Holiday made the sensible decision not to argue back. From the way Lux’s eyes widened, and Parker’s head dropped so low he could almost lick the maple syrup off his plate, I got the impression Tanner standing up to his sister didn’t happen very often.

I ignored it all by forking in my own mouthful of pancakes. All eyes shot to me when I let out a groan.

“Thesearereallygood,” I mumbled.

Lux kissed my head with a laugh, and moved back around the island, which is when I noticed a pile of chocolate next to him.

I pointed my fork over. “Why’s there so much chocolate out?”

Tanner looked up from the cookbook open in front of him. “Lux is making brownies.”

That was clearly news to Lux, seeing as his eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “Who’s doing what?”

“Lux is teachingmehow to make brownies.”

My eyes flicked to Lux over the rim of my coffee mug. “You are?”

“Yup,” he said with a lopsided smile, “and if you sit there long enough, you’ll be given a job.”

“I want a job.”

Tanner leaned over the counter and eased the blocks of chocolate nearer. “Here you go. We’re making two types – regular chocolate and salted caramel.”

My eyes moved across the kitchen island again to the counter behind Lux, but I couldn’t see a single box of Betty Crocker in sight. “You’re making them from scratch?”

He nodded. “What’s that look for?”

“Oh,” I held back a laugh. “Just that Millie’s going to lose her shit. Can we make extra so I can take her some?”

“Who’s Millie?”

I turned to Tanner to answer. “She’s my best friend in the world.”

His eyes shot to Lux, perking up in puppy-like excitement for the first time since I’d sat down. “Is she the hot one?”

“Yeah.” Lux’s eyes darted to mine with a cringe. “Sorry, that’s what he calls her.”

Tanner wasn’t the first person to call Millie hot, and he wouldn’t be the last.

“Then yes, she can definitely have my brownies,” he snickered, dodging out of the way as Lux took a swipe at his head. “You need to tell her they’re from me though, deal?”

I ripped the first packet of chocolate open, and began snapping the blocks. “Deal.”

“Wait!”

I dropped the chocolate, “What?”

“Is she single?”

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