Page 67 of Nothing But It All
She gulps. “Maybe not.”
“So can I have dinner with them? I’ll eat with you guys tomorrow. I swear. Besides, Mads is staying at Pops’s tonight.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Well, for one, they’re going blackberry picking tomorrow morning,” Michael says. “And for two, Pops didn’t act like he wanted to be alone tonight. It was kind of weird, but Mads was happy to stay with him.”
I exchange a look with Lauren. “Should I go check on them?”
“I was just there,” Michael says. “They’re fine. But maybe check on them before you go to sleep. I’m sure if anything is wrong, Maddie will come screaming.” He nibbles his bottom lip. “So, you aren’t mad about the whole us-leaving-you-stranded thing?”
“Mad? No,” I say. “You and your sister are going to go get the boat.”
“Tomorrow?” Michael asks.
“Tonight.”
“After dinner with Ava?” Michael counters. “I could totally take Ava with me and let Mads stay with Pops.”
I know what you want to do, you little shit.I shake my head while my son fights a grin.
“Does Ava’s varied repertoire involve boating?” Lauren asks.
“Probably. She’s pretty skilled,” Michael says, smirking.
Lauren points at him. “I’m going to ignore that.”
“Go. Grab a gas can from the shed behind Pops’s cabin. Make sure you tie it up in the right spot next to the boathouse—on the left of Pops’s. Not the right.”
“Got it,” Michael says. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“Later,” I say.
“Love you, little boy,” Lauren calls after him.
“Love you, Mama,” Michael shouts from somewhere in the darkness.
I open the seasonings and sprinkle them on the burgers. Lauren watches me carefully but stays silent.Weird.The fact that I’ve gottenthis far without her interference is odd, but I’ll go as long as she lets me.I want to do this for her. I want to take this off her plate.
I’m not sure whether to circle back to where we left off in our conversation before Michael showed up, or let it be.
“Can I ask you a question?” Lauren asks.
“Sure.”
“What are you doing?”
She’s grinning when I look up, an amused look on her face.There it is.
“I’m making you dinner,” I say.
“You know how to do that?”
I narrow my eyes. “It’s making hamburgers. I’m not getting fancy.”
“What’s gotten into you?” She laughs. “You’re not poisoning me, are you?”
I chuckle.
