Page 76 of Gideon
Everyone bursts into laughter, and I lean into him and smile because I can’t help it.
Niall starts to dish up the food, and Milo moves around setting out platters of salads and bread on the table and replenishing drinks.
As he puts a plate of steaks down on the table, Oz looks around. “I think we’ve actually got enough numbers now to form a group like the Spice Girls.”
“What would your nickname be?” Milo immediately asks.
“Snarky Spice,” Niall shouts.
Oz shakes his head. “While yours would be He Thinks He’s Funny but He’s Actually Not, so He Needs to Stop Talking Spice.”
Niall blinks as he comes over with a plate of burgers. “That’s a bit of a mouthful. Can’t I have something short and snappy? That’s not you, by the way, Oz.”
Oz raises his middle finger. “Yes, you can have something short and snappy. How about Twatty Spice?”
“What would his outfit be?” Eli asks, settling back in his chair and taking the hand I offer him. I smile at him, aware of Silas watching us.
“Something slutty,” Milo offers.
I laugh, and Niall shakes his head. “Milo, you actuallywoundme.”
“I’d wound you more if it wasn’t the truth.”
“Not anymore,” Niall says and kisses the smile on my brother’s face.
We fall on the food, making appreciative noises and occasionally pausing to take the piss out of Niall.
Finally, Oz settles back. “So, Niall is Twatty Spice.”
“I am not,” Niall says crossly.
“So Niall is Twatty Spice,” Oz continues undeterred. “I’m obviously Super Spice and Eli is I’m Just Taking a Mental Health Break Spice.” Eli laughs loudly, and Oz grins at him. It’s obvious he’s taken to him. “What about Silas, though?”
“Daddy Spice,” Milo says with a wicked gleam in his eyes. Silas chokes on his beer, and Niall pats him on the back helpfully.
“Silas is definitely not a Daddy,” Oz says. “He’s irredeemably democratic.”
“Why does that sound like a complaint?” Silas bemoans.
“Because the bossiest you get in bed is telling me to turn the light out.” Oz winks at Silas, who shakes his head.
“There’s only room for one bossy person in our family and let’s face it, Oz, that’s you.”
“I’ll second that,” Niall offers and grins when Oz glares at him. “I’ll even third, fourth, fifth and sixth it. In fact I’d infinity it.”
“What about Gideon?” Eli asks, sitting back in his chair, looking relaxed and amused. I knew they’d all get on. He fits like we’ve been saving his place all these years.
“Got to be Perfection Personified Spice,” I say as they groan. “But I somehow know it’s going to be Grumpy Spice.”
“Only if Badly Behaved Spice is taken,” Oz says.
“Don’t mock Princess Sparkles,” Niall warns him, and Milo laughs loudly as I stick two fingers up at them.
Silas shakes his head. “I don’t think you’re Grumpy Spice, Gideon.”
“What’s my name, then?” I ask, startled.
Silas smiles. “That’s going to take a bit of thought. You’re a whole new classification now.” He pauses. “Maybe Happy Spice.” He looks at Eli. “Thank you.”
