Page 73 of Nothing But It All
“Jack, get your dog, please,” I say, moving my leg swiftly through the air.
“Snaps, come here, buddy,” he says.
The dog drops my shoe and bolts to Jack.
“You want a hamburger, Mad?” I ask.
“No. It smells weird.”
Jack’s jaw drops. “Excuse me?”
“They smell weird. What’s wrong with them?”
I cover my mouth to hide my laughter.
“Nothing is ‘wrong with them,’” Jack says, holding Snaps back from lunging onto the table. “I made the burgers. They’re great.”
Maddie shakes her head. “Doubt it.”
“Here.” Jack thrusts Snaps toward his daughter. “Take him.”
Snaps growls playfully as he lands in Maddie’s arms.
Jack side-eyes Maddie as he gets his burger into a nice, neat stack. Then he brings it to his mouth and takes a large bite.
I grin smugly as I watch him start to chew.
“See? This is great,” he says, his eyes beginning to water. His chewing slows. “Really great.”
My chest bounces as I suppress a giggle.
“Really great,”he says again, reaching for his beer.
“It looks like you’re really enjoying that, Dad,” Maddie says, laughing.
Jack tips back his drink.
“Give us a description of that bite,” I say, smirking. “Was it decadent? Rich? Just plain ol’ delicious?”
“To hell with both of you,” he says, his face red.
Maddie and I laugh as Jack scoots his chair back. Then he unceremoniously dumps his food in the trash can.
“What’s wrong, Daddy? Didn’t you enjoy yourgreatburger?”
My cheeks ache from smiling.
“That thing was ...” He blows out a breath and reaches for his beer again. “Hot. And garlicky.”
I snort. “You only put a half a pound of pepper on there.”
“And chili flakes,” he says.
“Chili flakes? I missed that.”
He takes the burgers off the table and sets them beside the sink. “Be glad you missed all of it. I think my tongue is burned.”
Maddie leans against my chair and pets the puppy.
