Page 82 of Blade
“What?”
“You know that commercial where the pizza delivery girl gives the insurance guy a gallon of ranch dressing for saving her money on her car insurance?”
Amber popped her head out of the refrigerator. “Yeah?”
Robert held up a small bucket. “It’s no joke.”
“That’s not really ranch dressing. Is it?” she asked through a laugh.
“Yeah. The guy said he’s the one who took the order. When I gave him my name for the credit card, he put two and two together. Robert Blade in Bergen County. He figured it had to be me, so he insisted on delivering the order himself.” He held the bucket a little higher. “Since I ordered extra ranch, he gave meextraranch!”
She stared at it with a disbelieving smile for a few seconds before letting out a loud laugh. “Remind me to bring you to Louis Vuitton next time I go to the mall.”
They ate in the living room, drinking wine, and watching Scream. Panther begged for cheese from their pizza, and they shared some with him, while Biscuit was content to curl up in the corner of the couch and purr like a buzz saw.
The evening couldn’t be more perfect, and her heart overflowed with contentment. The day may have started out like a nightmare, but it ended like a dream.
The house, usually so incredibly quiet and empty, echoed with loud voices, laughter, and squeals of children at play. Robert had never hosted a party before. He had his college buddies over plenty of times, who brought alcohol and pizza, but he never had his whole family over for a barbeque, nor had he ever had so many people in his house at one time.
“This is nice,” he told Amber. “I should have parties more often. I don’t know why I don’t entertain. I have this huge place, and Manny is always the one throwing parties.”
“Some people just like to be the host. Let him do it. Why would you want all your crazy friends here?” she asked. “I can just imagine what Manny’s place looked like at the end of that Halloween party.”
Robert glanced around his beautifully decorated home where nothing was ever out of place, and he reconsidered his previous statement.
Lucas and Tessa ran past him at top speed, navigating the remote-control cars that Robert had gifted them earlier in the day. One car crashed into his maple coffee table, and the other rear-ended it, causing both cars to tumble across the hardwood floors.
At first, Robert gasped, but then he laughed it off. He wouldn’t mind a few dings and dents for those kids.
“Hey, be careful,” Jessi scolded. “You’re driving over the speed limit. Play with those on the patio before you wreck Uncle Robert’s furniture.”
“Sorry, Uncle Robert!” both kids called as they ran outside with their toys.
“It’s OK. I have insurance,” Robert joked, as he and Amber followed Jessi and the kids outside.
The activity in the yard filled Robert’s heart with family, and he took it all in. He watched Amber, who stood with her mom and Jessi talking and smiling as they watched the kids run around on the grass, their remote-control cars forgotten. Amber looked happy, at home, and comfortable.
Robert’s gaze drifted to his dad who was huddled together with Coach in a lengthy conversation about football that started the moment they both arrived, and they hadn’t taken a break since. Those two were obviously going to be best buddies.
A whoosh brought Robert’s attention to the barbecue as Tommy nearly singed his hair.
Angel immediately ran to his husband’s side and lowered the controls. “What are you doing?”
“Lighting the barbecue. I’m hungry,” Tommy replied.
“You don’t turn the knobs on full blast and let the gas build up before pressing the ignition.”
“Leave it to the professionals!” Jessi called to Tommy from across the yard.
Robert headed toward the barbecue to offer assistance. “Take it easy, bro. Don’t set my place on fire.”
“I got it,” Tommy assured.
Coach tried to move in and take over, but Angel wouldn’t hear of it.
“Thank you,” Angel said. “But I’m the only one here touching the grill.”
“Don’t try to argue with him,” Jessi told Coach. “He’s a control freak when it comes to cooking.”
