Page 74 of The Pushy Pixies Are Going Down
I met Miles’s gaze, and we both shook our heads in amusement, and I snorted. Ridiculousness.
“Alright, let’s get some food,” Miles said, waving the kids into the dining room.
Aeson followed without setting the cat down, and Chaos kept one hand on Goliath’s head as the dog led the way. It was… kind of adorable.
“Hey, kiddos!” Lyric called out. “Nice seeing you again. Did you see all the food Miles made? On my way over here, I felt bad that I didn’t bring anything, but after I saw all this, I’m glad I didn’t bother.”
Aeson’s eyes widened, and the kid turned to Miles, asking, “Just how many people are coming over?”
My boyfriend’s cheeks flamed. “Um… uh, well, you know… just us and two others.”
That made Lyric cackle. “He hasn’t even brought the hot dogs and burgers in from the grill yet.”
“Oh shit!” Miles sprinted through the kitchen to the back door, obviously going for the grill.
I snorted out a laugh and followed, grabbing the big platter he’d left on the kitchen counter and leaving the kids and Lyric to chat and start munching away—hopefully.
I doubted the five of us—seven when Mags and Nash got here—would even put a dent in the food. Maybe Miles could freeze some of the leftovers or something.
“Oh, thank god. Nothing’s burned.” Miles started turning this way and that, clearly looking for something and making me smile at the flustered man.
“Looking for this, lovey?” I lifted the platter and shook it in the air a little.
He turned around and sagged as he eyed the platter. “You’re a lifesaver.”
I laughed at that. “I’m not sure about that, but I’m at least a burger and hot dog saver.”
I ended up holding the very large platter for him while he pulled everything off the grill, and after he turned it off, we headed back inside.
I was relieved to find both kids with plates in their hands—clearly Lyric’s doing. They knew how much the kids needed food too.
Miles had trouble making room on his large table—that had not one but two leaves in it so it was very big at the moment—but finally, I was able to set the new platter down.
Then I checked my phone for the time and to see if my sister had texted to cancel yet.
There was nothing, but my sister was already ten minutes late.
“She’ll be here,” Miles whispered to me, shoulder-bumping me.
I chewed on my bottom lip for a second before facing him. “You really think so?”
He nodded. “I do. She was being completely honest when we were with her. She’ll be here.”
I blew out a breath and hoped he was right.
Chapter Twenty
Winter
With a small grin, I grabbed Miles’s elbow and steered him over to the plates at the other end of the table so the two of us could eat as well. Miles still seemed nervous, so I wasn’t sure he’d actually eat anything, but I had to try. Maybe once we were sitting with something to do, he’d calm down some.
“Mm, this is really good potato salad, Miles,” Aeson said. “Delicious.”
That made me laugh. “Actually, I made that. It’s the only thing I made. My mom’s recipe.” I almost grimaced at the mention ofthe mother who’d abandoned me when I’d been arrested, but I held it back.
I absolutely didn’t want to talk about any of that today, whether Maggie showed up or not.
Aeson grinned at me. “It’s so good. Best I’ve ever had.”
