Page 127 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Astrid, it’s so wonderful to meet you!’

His mom was opening the door before they’d even reached the top step. Her blue eyes twinkling, her dark hair smoothed back into a bun, an apron protecting her woollen dress from cooking spills. She opened her arms wide and pulled Astrid in for a hug. So much for being wary…

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs Carter,’ Astrid said, returning her embrace and Blake’s heart gave a little jump at seeing these two women together. The two most important…and quit that thought!

‘Call me Cynthia, please.’

‘Cynthia,’ Astrid beamed back. ‘These are for you.’ She reached into her bag and pulled out a box of chocolates. ‘Aiden said they were your favourite.’

‘Oh, how lovely! Thank you, dear. Though I hope you’ve got a pair of sunglasses in that bag of yours.’

‘Sunglasses?’ Blake said as he leaned in to give his mother a peck on the cheek.

‘Your brother’s hurting my eyes,’ she said as she closed the front door and ushered them through. ‘Why he does this to himself I have no idea.’

Blake pursed his lips – oh, this was too funny.

Astrid sent him a questioning look and he just shrugged.

‘I told you, it’s for the sponsors, Mom,’ came his brother’s grumbled response a second before he appeared, a blazing orange beacon amidst the muted colours of the hallway.Toofunny!

‘Just say whatever you’re thinking and get it over with,’ Aiden said to a frozen Astrid. ‘Blake certainly had no qualms speaking his mind.’

Blake checked out Astrid’s face. ‘I told you not to stare.’

Her eyes were watering too.

‘It beats what you did,’ his brother said.

‘Why, what did he do?’ Mom pressed.

‘Heasked if I’d spent the morning bathing in Cheetos.’

Astrid erupted, the smallest of laughs before she pressed her fist to her lips. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Sorry?’ Blake said. ‘Why are you sorry? He’s the one who went OTT on the tan.’

‘For the millionth time, I didn’t! There’s something wrong with the stuff. It’s never done this before.’

‘I thought you were getting a remover?’

‘Turns out they don’t work instantly.’

Astrid squeaked; his mum did too.

‘It better bloody fade before the game tomorrow, or I’m going to get roasted alive.’

‘Ah don’t worry, bro, you can blind the opposition for us.’

They all erupted, Astrid howling as she clutched her middle, his mother too.

‘Funny, Blake,’ his brother muttered. ‘Very funny.’

‘Hey, just be grateful you don’t whiff of cheese too, bro.’ He gave Aiden’s shoulder a squeeze. ‘But speaking of aromas, something smells delicious, Mom…’

* * *

Blake should have quit while he was ahead.

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