Page 100 of She Wolf

“I say when can we leave?”

“Atta girl,” he smiles, pecks my cheek, and pulls away to join in the stupid contest.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Coralie

The competition is tough going. Dad periodically calls out how much time is left and every time he does, the boys panic like they’re on a bake-off show. The girls and I fall about in fits of laughter when it happens and my mom smiles like it’s music to her ears.

Jack is currently with Casey and Jason, and they look to be having some creative differences.

“It won’t hold Case, trust me.”

Casey’s face falls in utter dismay. “Are you sure? Run the numbers again.”

Jason shakes his head, and looks at him in disbelief, “What numbers? This isn’t rocket science—it will give way.”

“Uncle Casey. Don’t worry we’ll find another way,” my sweet boy says, always so caring.

“I just really wanted you to have an arch there,” Casey points to where he means.

“That’s okay. What about adding another set of stairs that run into a dungeon?” Casey

stares at Jack trying to gauge if it will really suffice and then flicks his gaze to Jason.

“Do it, Nerd,” Jason rolls his eyes but starts the necessary excavations.

I spin to take in Gunner and Rex’s masterpiece and gasp. “Is that an amphitheater?”

“Wanna know how Rex sometimes relaxes,” Chloe says. We all nod and even the Mamas sit up a little,

“He draws schematics of sand sculptures. This will be from memory.”

“The detail is incredible,” my mom says.

“Yeah, my weirdo goalie husband; the sand artist.”

“Everyone needs a hobby, right?” Anna says, impressed.

“Scott, honey. Scotty, come here, sit down for a second,” my mom beckons to him as he walks past just at that moment.

“What’s up, Mama?”

“Oh, I just want to look at you a minute, you’re so handsome, I think out of all my sons you’re the best looking.”

“Ha,” Anna barks out a laugh and then covers her mouth. “Sorry Gilly,” she says through giggles, “I’ve just never seen a family look so alike.”

“Look at this jawline though,” she says grabbing a hold of his face.

Scott bats her hand away in fake annoyance. “Mama, cut it out. Is this all you wanted?”

“No honey, I wanted to ask you a very important question.”

“Oh yeah and what’s that?” He squints off into the distance knowing exactly what's coming. Even I know what she’s going to ask.

“When’s Miss Jenna getting here?” Those of us that can hear, all snicker.

He sighs and rubs his face with his hands. “In four days, ‘kay?”

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